Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be on hand Thursday to watch the likely ascension of his 2012 running mate, Paul Ryan, to the top constitutional post in Congress.
Mr. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, will be joined by his wife Ann and round out a large entourage set to to cheer on Mr. Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, during the formal election in the House chamber.
Though he toyed with a 2016 bid, Mr. Romney is sitting out the topsy-turvy GOP primary race, and Mr. Ryan seemed content with his status, too, as chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.
Now Mr. Ryan finds himself thrust into a much different job, though he’s bringing his committee gavel with him, after the sudden retirement of Speaker John A. Boehner — and swift demise of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s bid to replace him — led to a full-throated campaign to enlist him as speaker.
Mr. Ryan’s hometown priest, Msgr. Donn Heiar of St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church in Janesville, Wis., kicked off the big day by delivering the opening prayer, as members began to fill the chamber.
Mr. Ryan’s wife, Janna, and their three children — Liza, 13, Charlie, 12, and Sam, 10 — were in attendance, along with Mr. Ryan’s mother, Betty Douglas, and his sister Janet, brothers Stan and Tobin and their families.
SEE ALSO: Paul Ryan nominated for speaker by Republicans
The House Republican Conference nominated him behind closed doors, 200-43, over Rep. Daniel Webster, a Florida Republican whose reform-minded message won over influential members of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus. The caucus’ frequent revolts had nudged Mr. Boehner out of the the job he’d held since 2011.
As the party’s nominee, Mr. Ryan is expected to peel away enough support Thursday to get at least 218 votes on the floor.
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, of Washington, will nominate Mr. Ryan before the roll call vote.
Assuming he is elected, Mr. Ryan will be sworn on his own New American Standard Bible, which he uses for his weekly Bible study, according to his spokesman.
After the election, he will have lunch with his family in the members’ dining room at the Capitol.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.