Florida Rep. Daniel Webster, who is backed by the conservative House Freedom Caucus in the race for Speaker of the House, told Newsmax late Tuesday that he is not quitting despite Wisconsin Rep.
Paul Ryan announcing that he would seek the position is Republicans unite behind him and other conditions.
"I’m running for speaker to transform a broken Congress based on the power of a few with a principle-based, member-driven Congress," Webster, who has been in the House since 2011, said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing to share my vision of pushing down the pyramid of power and spreading out the base to allow each member to be successful."
Ryan, 45, the 2012 vice presidential candidate and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said that he would consider seeking the speakership if he can serve as a "unity candidate" and can end leadership crises in the chamber and not give up any time with his family.
"If you can agree to these requests and if I can truly be a unifying figure, then I will gladly serve," Ryan said.
Webster, 66, has been backed by the Freedom Caucus since shortly after John Boehner said last month that he would leave the speakership and Congress at the end of the month after 25 years on Capitol Hill.
Conservatives played a critical role in Boehner's departure — and they are seeking a stronger role within House leadership.
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California abruptly said earlier this month that he would not seek the position after the fallout of his comments about the special House panel investigating the 2012 Benghazi attacks and its impact on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's falling poll numbers.
McCarthy, 50, said he would remain the House's No. 2 Republican.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.