Washington ( CNN ) Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan will not run for president in 2016 , he said in a statement on Monday , preferring instead to focus on policy work as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee . `` After giving it a lot of thought , I 've decided not to run for president . Our work at the House Ways and Means Committee over the next few years will be crucial to moving America forward , and my job as chairman deserves undivided attention , '' he said . Romney vs. Bush : The establishment match-up . `` It 's clear our country needs a change in direction . And our party has a responsibility to offer a real alternative . So I 'm going to do what I can to lay out conservative solutions and to help our nominee lead us to victory , '' Ryan added . Ryan , the GOP 's 2012 vice-presidential nominee , has long been seen as a top contender for the presidency . The nine-term congressman has made a national name for himself as a policy wonk on Capitol Hill , helping to draft and promote the GOP 's budget proposals as chairman of the House Budget Committee . Indeed , the Real Clear Politics average of national political polls of the potential 2016 Republican field found Ryan in third place , behind former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie . A CNN/ORC poll conducted in mid-December , however , found him farther down in the pack , tying for sixth with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio . But even as he 's decided to say no to a presidential bid , Republicans have a chance for deja vu with his top-of-the-ticket running mate , former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney . Romney recently told donors that he 's considering a 2016 run for president , and has led a number of national polls of the potential field . But Ryan told NBC News that his decision came over the holidays , long before Romney appeared to be inching towards another bid . `` It is no secret that I have always thought Mitt would make a great president , '' he said . `` As for his plans for 2016 , I do n'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 . '' Ryan would n't offer his support for any potential GOP contender , however . `` I think we 've got a number of very capable candidates who have every ability to become president . There are a lot of talented people , '' he told NBC in a phone interview . `` I think it is critical that our party puts forward bold , conservative ideas and give people a choice . I think we have a number of capable leaders who can do that . ''
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan will not run for president in 2016 , he said Monday . Ryan said his work on the House Ways and Means Committee deserves his `` undivided attention '' He praised former running mate Mitt Romney but would n't offer an endorsement .