Ryan: I’m Betting On Kevin McCarthy As Next Speaker

Roll Call reports:

Speaker Paul D. Ryan’s Thursday interview with David M. Rubenstein, president of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., started with an admission that he has no regrets — “none whatsoever” — about retiring. It then diverted into a wide array of topics including his replacement, future plans and policy goals for his last few months in office.

The Wisconsin Republican reiterated his preference that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy succeed him as speaker when asked about his replacement. “Kevin McCarthy is my goal, my bet and I think he’s going to be the next speaker of the House,” Ryan said.

That’s far from certain given conservatives may block McCarthy from ascending like they did when he sought the gavel in 2015, which is ultimately what led to Ryan reluctantly becoming speaker.