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Fast Money & Foreign Objects
BY JOSH DELK - 08/30/17 03:43 PM EDT 65
© Greg Nash
Four Republican congressional candidates in Minnesota refused to commit their support to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) when asked about him at a candidate forum.
In a video from the Minnesota State Fair, the four would not say whether they'd support Ryan if he runs for Speaker in the next Congress.
The video was first reported on by The Washington Post.
Their answers suggest some GOP candidates may be reluctant to embrace Ryan as the GOP House struggles to pass legislation, and as President Trump calls into question the congressional leaders of his own party.
Ryan has also been a target for conservative media, which may be putting pressure on candidates to distance themselves from him.
"He might not even run for Speaker," said St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber, dodging the question.
Stauber is running unopposed in the GOP primary to take on Rep. Rick Nolan (D).
"When I'm in Congress, I'll let you know, because people can change their views, change their ways," Stauber said.
"I would prefer someone else," said Dave Hughes, a commercial pilot running in the GOP primary for the nomination to take on Rep. Collin Peterson (D).
"I think he's going in the wrong direction," said state Rep. Tim Miller, asked about his feelings on Ryan.
Miller is also running for the GOP nomination in the race to take on Peterson.
“We’ve got to have leadership that ensures we do the will of the people,” he said. “Whoever that is, I’d support that.”
Businessman Jim Hagedorn, who is running for the seat being vacated by Rep. Tim Walz (D), who defeated him in 2014, also declined to commit to Ryan. That's significant since he's backed by the National Republican Campaign Committee.
“In the next Congress, we hopefully hold our majority, and there will be an election a week or two after that election,” he said. “We’ll see who runs for speaker. Until then, you have to be very cautious about what you do. A lot can happen in a year in a half.”
Matt Prosch, who is also running for Peterson's seat, did commit to backing Ryan.
The candidates are running for three seats that are considered winnable for Republicans in 2018.
While Democrats took the three seats in 2016, they did so despite Trump winning the district vote in the presidential election.
Trump questioned Ryan's handling of debt ceiling negotiations last week. He's been even more critical this month of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who in the president's view failed to secure him a victory on ObamaCare repeal.
Democrats may have their own problems with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Republicans have repeatedly tied Pelosi to Democratic House candidates, and this seemed to be a factor in the party's loss of a special election earlier this year in Georgia, though that district also had been held by Republicans for decades.
Minnesota GOP candidates won't commit to Ryan for Speaker
I won't hold my breath
© Greg Nash
Four Republican congressional candidates in Minnesota refused to commit their support to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) when asked about him at a candidate forum.
In a video from the Minnesota State Fair, the four would not say whether they'd support Ryan if he runs for Speaker in the next Congress.
The video was first reported on by The Washington Post.
Their answers suggest some GOP candidates may be reluctant to embrace Ryan as the GOP House struggles to pass legislation, and as President Trump calls into question the congressional leaders of his own party.
Ryan has also been a target for conservative media, which may be putting pressure on candidates to distance themselves from him.
"He might not even run for Speaker," said St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber, dodging the question.
Stauber is running unopposed in the GOP primary to take on Rep. Rick Nolan (D).
"When I'm in Congress, I'll let you know, because people can change their views, change their ways," Stauber said.
"I would prefer someone else," said Dave Hughes, a commercial pilot running in the GOP primary for the nomination to take on Rep. Collin Peterson (D).
"I think he's going in the wrong direction," said state Rep. Tim Miller, asked about his feelings on Ryan.
Miller is also running for the GOP nomination in the race to take on Peterson.
“We’ve got to have leadership that ensures we do the will of the people,” he said. “Whoever that is, I’d support that.”
Businessman Jim Hagedorn, who is running for the seat being vacated by Rep. Tim Walz (D), who defeated him in 2014, also declined to commit to Ryan. That's significant since he's backed by the National Republican Campaign Committee.
“In the next Congress, we hopefully hold our majority, and there will be an election a week or two after that election,” he said. “We’ll see who runs for speaker. Until then, you have to be very cautious about what you do. A lot can happen in a year in a half.”
Matt Prosch, who is also running for Peterson's seat, did commit to backing Ryan.
The candidates are running for three seats that are considered winnable for Republicans in 2018.
While Democrats took the three seats in 2016, they did so despite Trump winning the district vote in the presidential election.
Trump questioned Ryan's handling of debt ceiling negotiations last week. He's been even more critical this month of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who in the president's view failed to secure him a victory on ObamaCare repeal.
Democrats may have their own problems with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Republicans have repeatedly tied Pelosi to Democratic House candidates, and this seemed to be a factor in the party's loss of a special election earlier this year in Georgia, though that district also had been held by Republicans for decades.
Minnesota GOP candidates won't commit to Ryan for Speaker
I won't hold my breath
