WI-Sen: Paul Ryan?

[Sir Mohamed]

Just a wild thought on WI: I always wondered that Paul Ryan was never mentioned as possible senate candidate on the GOP side. He has wide name recognition, a campaign structure and donors. And I'm not sure that he's actually enjoying the speakership. So, why not trying in the senate? WI is not worst place to run for a GOPer, even in a Trump midterm, Ryan could be at least somewhat competitive.

[brucejoel99]

B/c while being a Senator is more prestigious than being a Representative in the House, Paul Ryan as Speaker has more power than any Senator b/c a "normal" Senator can't really set a legislative agenda the way the Speaker can. He leads the majority of the larger house of Congress, & the one that holds the purse-strings.

[Young Conservative]

He's the most powerful member of Congress. He also has the highest salary. Why switch to a new pond when you already can rule both?

[Gass3268]

Ryan isn't very popular in Wisconsin.

[mcmikk]

No

[Sir Mohamed]

He's the most powerful member of Congress. He also has the highest salary. Why switch to a new pond when you already can rule both?

Maybe on paper. I don't see him in a very strong position politically. Given the current divisions among congressional GOPers, it is probably hard for everyone. Ryan is unopular both among "moderates" and especially among the Freedom Caucus members. His relationship with the president is also not the best. He may be in a stronger position with President Pence.

As senator, he would have more freedom in that sense.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

No, in addition to all the other issues, he would go from a Safe R race in the house, to a not so safe election for the senate.

[Blair]

He's the most powerful member of Congress. He also has the highest salary. Why switch to a new pond when you already can rule both?

Maybe on paper. I don't see him in a very strong position politically. Given the current divisions among congressional GOPers, it is probably hard for everyone. Ryan is unopular both among "moderates" and especially among the Freedom Caucus members. His relationship with the president is also not the best. He may be in a stronger position with President Pence.

As senator, he would have more freedom in that sense.

I wouldn't agree with this; there has actually been more briefing backbiting against McConnell than Ryan. Even the healthcare vote was seen as a rebellion against the policy rather than Ryan's handling himself.

Hes not unpopular; Boehner was unpopular.

But yeah if he runs for the Senate it puts a big fat target on his head in the Senate race; and even if he won he'd still be a junior senator who at best would get a couple of committee placements (he was in the House from an insanely young age, so has already had that)

Besides he's already cast his lot in as speaker; he doesn't want to go down in history as the guy who was speaker for 3 years, and then lost a senate seat.

If he hadn't became speaker, and Hillary had won/the GOP lost the House in 2016 then maybe this could happen

[Suburbia]

Paul Ryan considered running for the WI-SEN in 2012 against then-Sen. Herb Kohl, who retired. Had Tommy Thompson not have been a top GOP Senate candidate at the time, Ryan would have been "forced" to run with his agenda, and his policy, etc.

Ryan will be a House lifer unless he retires to be a lobbyist, steps down as Speaker, runs for President in the future or something.

[Don Vito Corleone]

Why would he give up the speaker-ship to lose a senate race?

[NewYorkExpress]

If he ran, he could beat Baldwin, but he's not going to risk the Speakership over a tossup Senate seat.