Paul Ryan
Born 1970 · Age 55
American Republican politician from Janesville, Wisconsin; U.S. Representative (1999–2019); 54th Speaker of the House (2015–2019); 2012 Republican vice-presidential nominee; longtime budget and tax policy leader.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Janesville, Wisconsin
Paul Davis Ryan born to Elizabeth (Betty) Ann and Paul Murray Ryan in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Received Social Security survivors benefits saved for college
From his father's death until age 18 Ryan received Social Security survivors benefits that were saved for college.
Found father's body; formative family event
At age 16 Ryan discovered his 55-year-old father dead of a heart attack; later credited this event with shaping views on self-reliance.
Graduated Joseph A. Craig High School
Graduated high school in Janesville; served as junior-class president and was prom king; participated in sports and Model UN.
Joined Miami University
Matriculated at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), studying economics and political science; member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Interned on Capitol Hill / Washington Semester
Participated in Washington Semester at American University and interned in the D.C. office of U.S. Senator Bob Kasten during college summers.
Graduated Miami University (B.A.)
Completed a bachelor's degree double-majoring in economics and political science (1992).
Aide to U.S. Senator Bob Kasten
Joined Sen. Robert (Bob) Kasten's office in Washington, D.C., initially as an intern and then as a staffer after graduation.
Summer job driving the Wienermobile (Oscar Mayer)
Worked summers as an Oscar Mayer salesman; once drove the Wienermobile — noted anecdote from college years.
Joined Empower America as speechwriter/adviser
Became a speechwriter and policy staffer at Empower America (later FreedomWorks), a conservative advocacy organization.
Legislative director for Rep. Sam Brownback
Became legislative director for then-Congressman Sam Brownback of Kansas, overseeing policy staff work.
Speechwriter for Jack Kemp's VP campaign
Worked as a speechwriter for Jack Kemp during Kemp's 1996 vice-presidential campaign (Kemp was Bob Dole's running mate); Kemp was a mentor.
Returned to Wisconsin; worked at family construction company
Worked about a year as a marketing consultant for Ryan Incorporated Central, the family earthmoving/construction company.
Elected to U.S. House of Representatives (WI-1)
Won the general election for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district to replace Mark Neumann; was the second-youngest member of the House.
Took office as U.S. Representative (1st District, WI)
Officially began serving in the 106th Congress (term: January 3, 1999).
Re-elected to Congress (2000)
Won re-election defeating Jeffrey C. Thomas (67%-33%).
Married Janna Little
Married Janna Little (a tax attorney and former lobbyist).
Re-elected to Congress (2002)
Defeated Jeffrey C. Thomas in a rematch (approx. 67%-31%).
Voted for Medicare prescription-drug benefit
Supported President George W. Bush's Medicare prescription-drug program (2003 vote).
Advocated for Social Security reform
Pushed for Social Security privatization ideas during the Bush administration (2004–2005 period).
Re-elected to Congress (2004)
Defeated Jeffrey C. Thomas again (approx. 65%-33%).
Delta Tau Delta Alumni Achievement Award
Presented the Fraternity’s Alumni Achievement Award at the 2004 Karnea in Denver.
Pushed Social Security privatization (policy advocacy)
In the mid-2000s Ryan was a major proponent of partial Social Security privatization and related conservative entitlement reforms.
Re-elected to Congress (2006)
Won re-election defeating Jeffrey C. Thomas (63%-37%).
Became ranking Republican on House Budget Committee
Named the top Republican on the House Budget Committee (ranking member), increasing his profile on fiscal policy.
Voted for auto industry support (GM/Chrysler era)
One of 32 House Republicans to vote for a $14 billion legislative bailout supporting the automobile industry in late 2008.
Re-elected to Congress (2008)
Defeated Democratic challenger Marge Krupp (approx. 64%-35%).
Introduced 'Roadmap for America's Future'
Released his Roadmap plan to overhaul entitlements (major proposal to privatize parts of Social Security/transform Medicare and Medicaid).
Introduced alternative 2010 budget / Medicare reforms
Presented an updated budget alternative (April 1, 2009) including major proposals to reform Medicare funding mechanism.
Member of Bowles-Simpson National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility
Served on the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform tasked with deficit reduction proposals; voted against the commission's final report.
Co-authored 'Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders'
Co-wrote the book with Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy (published 2010), raising his national profile in conservative circles.
Re-elected to Congress (2010)
Defeated John Heckenlively (approx. 68%-30%); Republicans regained the House majority in midterms.
Named one of the most influential conservatives
After the 2010 elections Ryan's ideas rose in influence; media and conservative outlets highlighted his role as intellectual leader of House conservatives.
Delivered Republican response to State of the Union
Selected to give the official Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union address (January 2011).
Unveiled 'Path to Prosperity' budget
Rolled out 'Path to Prosperity' (2011), the revised GOP budget plan calling for tax cuts, Medicaid overhaul and repeal of the ACA; House passed it but Senate rejected.
Path to Prosperity passed House (Republican budget)
Ryan's 2011 Path to Prosperity became the official Republican budget, passed in the House but failed in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Became Chair of House Budget Committee
After Republicans took the House majority, Ryan became chairman of the Budget Committee (2011–2015).
House campaign finance prominence
Noted by media as having the largest House campaign account and being an influential fiscal-policy voice; statistical analyses ranked him as among the most conservative House VP picks historically.
Endorsed Mitt Romney for President
Endorsed Romney for the GOP presidential nomination days before the Wisconsin primary (March 2012).
Congressional campaign account reported over $5.4M
As of July 25, 2012, Ryan had over $5.4 million in his congressional campaign account — largest of any House member at that time.
Selected as Mitt Romney's running mate (announced)
Romney campaign announced Paul Ryan as the vice-presidential pick via the campaign's app (Aug 11, 2012); offer likely made Aug 1.
Formally accepted VP nomination at RNC
Formally accepted the Republican vice-presidential nomination at the 2012 Republican National Convention (speech in Norfolk aboard USS Wisconsin was earlier acceptance site).
Debated Vice President Joe Biden
Participated in the only 2012 vice-presidential debate on Oct 11, 2012; received mixed reviews and fact-check criticism.
Romney-Ryan ticket defeated; Ryan retained House seat
Republican ticket lost to Obama-Biden; Ryan was re-elected to his House seat (approx. 55% in district).
Published 'The Way Forward: Renewing the American Idea'
Authored a book articulating his vision and policy priorities (published 2014).
Re-elected to Congress (2014)
Defeated Rob Zerban in a rematch, winning roughly 63% of the vote.
Became Chair of House Ways and Means Committee
Became chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee at the start of the 114th Congress (served Jan–Oct 2015).
Named John David Hoppe chief of staff
Appointed lobbyist John David Hoppe as his chief of staff after becoming Speaker.
Announced candidacy for Speaker of the House
Following John Boehner's resignation and Kevin McCarthy's withdrawal, Ryan announced on Oct 22 that he would seek the speakership after receiving key endorsements.
Elected 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Elected Speaker on Oct 29, 2015 with 236 votes; sworn in by Rep. John Conyers; at 45, the youngest Speaker since 1869.
Endorsed Donald Trump for President
After initial hesitation, Ryan publicly endorsed Donald Trump on June 2, 2016 (op-ed in The Janesville Gazette).
Re-elected to Congress (2016)
Defeated Democratic challenger Rebecca Solen in the general election, winning about 65% of the vote.
Re-elected Speaker (115th Congress)
Re-elected Speaker on Jan 3, 2017 and continued to lead House Republican agenda into 2017–2018.
Gave 30-minute lecture on ACA replacement
Explained the American Health Care Act (AHCA) proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act (March 9, 2017).
House passed American Health Care Act (AHCA)
The House narrowly approved AHCA to repeal/replace the ACA (vote: 217–213); the measure stalled in the Senate.
Responded to congressional baseball shooting
After a shooter attacked practice in Alexandria (June 2017), Ryan gave a unifying floor speech urging unity across parties.
House passage of tax reform (initial)
House passed its tax-reform bill (part of the process that became the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act).
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law
President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (a major Republican legislative achievement); estimated $1.5 trillion net cost over a decade.
Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (passage)
Ryan played a key role in passage of a 2018 banking reform bill that rolled back parts of Dodd–Frank (bill passage in 2018).
Announced he would not seek re-election (retirement)
On April 11, 2018 Ryan announced he would retire at the end of his term to spend more time with family; stepped down Jan 2019.
Lost speakership as Democrats retook the House (transition)
With Democrats winning the 2018 midterms and Nancy Pelosi becoming Speaker in Jan 2019, Ryan's tenure as Speaker ended.
Left Congress (term ended)
Ryan's final day in the House was January 3, 2019, concluding 20 years as the representative for WI-1 (1999–2019).
Joined the board of Fox Corporation
Approximately two months after leaving Congress, Ryan joined the board of Fox Corporation (parent of Fox News).
Became a public critic of Donald Trump post-Congress
After leaving Congress Ryan remained politically active, sometimes publicly criticizing former President Trump and his influence on the GOP.
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