Paul Ryan Won't Run for President In 2016

January 12, 2015 4:50 PM EST

Former GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan will not campaign for the top job in 2016, according to NBC.

The Wisconsin Congressman said he hopes to focus his energy on his powerful new role as House Ways and Means Committee Chairman.

“It is amazing the amount of encouragement I have gotten from people—from friends and supporters—but I feel like I am in a position to make a big difference where I am and I want to do that,” he told NBC, adding that it will be “bittersweet not being on the trail.”

Ryan said that there were “a number of very capable candidates” in his party who could win, but declined to endorse anyone in particular. He did express support for his former running mate, Mitt Romney, who has said he won’t run for a third time.

“It is no secret that I have always thought Mitt would make a great president,” said Ryan. “As for his plans for 2016, I don’t know what he is ultimately going to do and the last thing I want to do is get ahead of his own decision making process.”

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Paul Ryan Won’t Run for President In 2016

See the 2016 Candidates Looking Very Presidential

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