Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has announced he will retire from politics rather than contest the forthcoming mid-term elections in November.
He said his decision was based on his desire to spend more time with his children.
However, says The New York Times, Ryan had found himself on the wrong side of a political chasm. “The speaker, who once dreamed of a more inclusive party, open to black, Latino and immigrant voters enticed by a youthful, optimistic vision, was being left behind,” it reports.
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His departure is likely to strengthen Donald Trump’s influence over the Republican Party, and “heightens worries for Republican strategists about the [party’s] ability to hold onto its House majority”, says The Washington Post.
An unnamed senior Republican told Axios that Ryan’s retirement represents a “titanic, tectonic shift” which will “make every Republican donor believe the House can’t be held”.
The number of House Republicans not seeking re-election in November now stands at 46. Democrats need to pick up 24 seats to gain a majority.
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