A Republican lawmaker admitted Tuesday it seems as though House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is not planning to run for re-election this fall, which would yield new leadership in the House chamber.
Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., appeared on Alabama radio station Talk 99.5 and told the hosts of the "Matt & Aunie" show he's not sure Ryan is going to run again, stoking a rumor that has been floating around Capitol Hill.
"Every indication is that Paul Ryan is not going to run for re-election," Brooks said. "But he hasn't publicly said it. So until he publicly says it, he could be running for re-election."
As for who could replace Ryan as House speaker, Brooks pointed to the two lawmakers directly below Ryan in House leadership flowchart: Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La.
"I'm sure Kevin McCarthy out of California wants to be speaker," Brooks said. "He would be an acceptable speaker — maybe a little bit more liberal than Paul Ryan. That would be pretty close.
"The talk primarily is focused on Steve Scalise, who is from Louisiana. He's somewhat of a heroic figure because of what he went through with the baseball field shooting. And then he's a little bit more conservative than Kevin McCarthy and thus, might be better suited."
Brooks said President Donald Trump, however, could shake things up by publicly endorsing someone for the speakership.
Ryan's office addressed the retirement rumors Tuesday by saying he is not stepping aside.
Brooks, Scalise, Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, and several others were at a Congressional baseball practice last June when a gunman began firing at them. Scalise's Capitol Police detail and Alexandria, Virginia police officers were able to kill the perpetrator after a 10-minute shootout, but not before Scalise was shot in the hip. He nearly died in the hours and days following the incident.
Williams hurt his ankle while jumping into a dugout to take cover during the shooting.
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