This isn’t terribly surprising. The National Journal reports,
Rep. Paul Ryan is staying in the House, and won’t run for the U.S. Senate, two well-placed GOP sources tell National Journal.
Ryan began informing close friends of his decision Tuesday. Three GOP sources tell National Journal as soon as Ryan officially announces he won’t run for the Senate, former Wisconsin GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson, is expected to announce his candidacy for the Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl, who recently announced he was retiring.
Ryan is head of the budget committee, so he may well have decided it was important to remain in that vital position, which he is uniquely qualified for. What is more, his recent and gutsy plan to fix Medicare would surely be an issue — likely a negative one Democrats would demagogue — were he to run for the senate. The timing just wasn’t right.