"Let me be clear: I do not want, nor will I accept the Republican nomination": Paul Ryan says count him out for 2016

The House speaker made an official statement declaring himself out of the running

Published April 12, 2016 7:48PM (EDT)

FILE - In this March 23, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Wisconsin's "Cheesehead Revolution" was ushered in by a trio of Republicans, Walker, Reince Priebus and Scott Walker, looking to inject the party with their own youthful, aggressive brand of conservatism while positioning the party for success in the 2016 presidential election. Then came Donald Trump. (AP Photo/) (AP/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
FILE - In this March 23, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Wisconsin's "Cheesehead Revolution" was ushered in by a trio of Republicans, Walker, Reince Priebus and Scott Walker, looking to inject the party with their own youthful, aggressive brand of conservatism while positioning the party for success in the 2016 presidential election. Then came Donald Trump. (AP Photo/) (AP/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan is officially ruling out a 2016 presidential candidacy, the BBC reports.

Ryan's name has floated as a contender among GOP circles for several weeks following the likelihood that neither Donald Trump, John Kasich nor Ted Cruz will win the 1,237 delegates required to get the nomination.

But the House speaker has repeatedly stated he would not run for president this year, even if the GOP ends in a contested convention in July. The speaker made an official announcement on Tuesday.

"Count me out. I’ve got a message to relay today. We’ve got too much work to do in the House to allow this speculation to swirl," he said in a news conference. "Let me be clear: I do not want, nor will I accept the Republican nomination."

Paul Ryan’s office also posted a link to his full remarks for political journalists and the party establishment.

New York state will cast the next primary votes on April 19th, which will futher determine the race and delegates pledged to each candidate.

Trump currently holds strong in New York according to polls but the real-estate magnate could still fall short before the convention in Cleveland.


By Antoaneta Roussi

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Donald Trump Gop Paul Ryan Presidential Race Republican Nomination