House Freedom Caucus Will Support, But Not Formally Endorse Paul Ryan (UPDATED)

Josh FeldmanOct 21st, 2015, 6:32 pm

One of the House Republican caucuses that Paul Ryan said he wouldn’t run for Speaker without the support of may be voting on endorsing him tonight, and it doesn’t look too good. (UPDATES BELOW)

After lots of calls to get him to run, Ryan said yesterday he would be willing to run for Speaker with certain conditions. One of those conditions is that he gets the official backing of the moderate Tuesday Group, the Republican Study Committee, and the House Freedom Caucus.

But the House Freedom Caucus––the same group that fought Kevin McCarthy before he stepped out of the spotlight––isn’t exactly too keen on Ryan either. Congressman Raul Labrador called one of Ryan’s conditions on congressional procedure a “nonstarter.”

And he’s not the only caucus member with critical things to say. ThinkProgress picked up on some other statements members have made:

Rep. Jones on Paul Ryan: This is not what we need. We need someone that can represent the American people and not special interests.

— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) October 21, 2015

Rep Huelskamp on Ryan: He’s set up..unacceptable conditions. He knows they’re unreasonable..He can drop out and say ‘At least I tried.’

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 21, 2015

Rep. Mulvaney on changing motion to vacate chair: "I like Paul Ryan a lot. I like Thomas Jefferson better."

— Cristina Marcos (@cimarcos) October 21, 2015

80 percent support is needed in the caucus to officially endorse Ryan, but it doesn’t look like they’re going to meet that threshold if they vote tonight:

Paul Ryan's potential bid for speaker will be decided TONIGHT. FREEDOM CAUCUS will vote on endorsement tonight. Without their nod Ryan's out

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 21, 2015

Freedom Caucus will vote tonight on whether to support Paul. Big threshold. Question if Webster endorsement remains. Or could be free agents

— Anna Palmer (@apalmerdc) October 21, 2015

I have asked Jim Jordan this question every way I know: The House Freedom Caucus is sticking to a 4/5ths majority for an endorsement vote.

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) October 21, 2015

Rep Gossar tells me meeting feels more like formality than anything. He says 80% of Freedom Caucus VERY UNLIKELY to back Ryan by Friday.

— Elaina Plott (@elainaplott) October 21, 2015

So far HFC says they will abide by 80% in order to endorse. If that's in fact true. Hard to see Ryan getting formal endorsement right now

— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) October 21, 2015

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) says he doesn't see 80% of Freedom Caucus switching from Webster to Ryan for Speaker–so no endorsement

— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) October 21, 2015

Congressman Daniel Webster is a member of the caucus and its presumed favorite. Earlier today he was still touting their support of his Speaker bid.

UPDATE –– 7:25 pm EST: Despite earlier reports saying there would be a vote tonight, it’s not a 100 percent certainty:

It's still unclear if the Freedom Caucus votes on Ryan tonight. Reporters ask Raul Labrador. "We don't know yet. We're having a discussion."

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) October 21, 2015

And on top of that, there’s one leader in the caucus who told The Hill earlier that Ryan could have a “path” to getting their endorsement for Speaker.

UPDATE –– 7:52 pm EST: A possible positive sign:

BREAKING: Rep Labrador says a super majority of the freedom caucus supports Paul Ryan

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorpNBC) October 21, 2015

UPDATE –– 8:04 pm EST: That super majority does not, however, guarantee the 80 percent support, and according to one report tonight Ryan came close but not quite all the way there:

Paul Ryan doesn't get endorsement of House Freedom Caucus, but roughly 70% voted for him. They can re-vote. @rollcall

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) October 21, 2015

Paul Ryan was within three or four votes of winning House Freedom Caucus support @MEPFuller reports, just short of winning its endorsement

— CQ Now (@CQnow) October 21, 2015

The question now is this: Is a 70 percent endorsement of the House Freedom Caucus enough for Paul Ryan? Does he need three extra votes?

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) October 21, 2015

UPDATE –– 8:07 pm EST: There will be no official endorsement of Ryan despite the majority support:

HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS DOES NOT ENDORSE PAUL RYAN. They say a SUPER MAJORITY will support Ryan for speaker, however.r

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 21, 2015

Rep Labrador says the Freedom Caucus will NOT be endorsing Paul Ryan as he doesn't have 80% of caucus' support. "It's an offer of support"

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorpNBC) October 21, 2015

Basically, they voted to support him but not to endorse him.

UPDATE –– 9:22 pm EST: Ryan will move forward with his Speaker bid despite no official endorsement from the House Freedom Caucus. He released a statement tonight: