WASHINGTON – U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan will retire from Congress at the end of this term, according to a source close to the speaker.

Axios news first reported the news, which could have consequences for politics within state of Texas. Should Republicans hold the House, the retirement will open up a leadership slot, which some of the Texans in the congressional delegation might eye.

U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, a Dallas Ruepublican, eyed the whip slot when U.S. Speaker John Boehner retired in 2015.

But that opening is contingent on the GOP holding the House.

And it is hard to underscore how much of a blow to Republican unity this retirement could bring to the divided conference. While conservatives frequently criticized Ryan, he was widely viewed as the lone member who could hold the conference together.

Ryan is a prolific fundraiser and, by retiring, will lose much leverage on that front.

The speaker just completed a multi-million fundraising swing through Texas.

This developing story will be updated soon.

Source: Texas Tribune Blue Left News