Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan moved another step closer Wednesday to becoming the next speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Republican from Janesville emerged from a closed door meeting with House GOP members, where he received 200 votes backing his nomination to succeed Speaker John Boehner. He told reporters gathered outside the room that he plans to “turn the page” by moving forward and unifying the party.
“We think the country is headed in the wrong direction,” Ryan said, “and we have an obligation, here in the people’s house to do the people’s business, to give this country a better way forward…to give this country an alternative.”
The full House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on electing Ryan the next speaker.