Boehner sets date for speaker election as Paul Ryan gathers support

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

published 21 October 2015

Outgoing Speaker of the House John Boehner announced on Wednesday that the internal Republican election for his replacement will be held on October 28, with a floor election the following day. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who formerly expressed great reluctance about running for speaker, said Tuesday that he will step up to the plate if House Republicans are willing to unite behind him and agree to certain conditions.

"If Paul Ryan can't unite us, no one can. Who else is out there?" Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), a moderate, told The Washington Post. Many others have also expressed their backing of Ryan, though the House Freedom Caucus has rallied behind Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), who does not have enough support in the House to win the speakership.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.