CLOSES IN : House Conservatives Support Paul Ryan For Speaker, But Won't Formally Endorse Him The House leadership crisis may finally be over.

 Mollie Reilly Deputy Politics Editor, The Huffington Post

A majority of the House Freedom Caucus voted to support Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for House speaker during a closed-door meeting Wednesday evening, apparently putting to rest a tumultuous speaker's race. 

Paul Ryan

According to Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), approximately 70 percent of the group of hardline conservatives agreed to back Ryan for the leadership position instead of Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), who had intended to run for the post. However, the caucus stopped short ofendorsing Ryan, and Labrador said it would be up to Ryan to decide if the signal of support was enough. (The caucus needed to reach 80 percent support to grant an endorsement.)

Ryan, after nearly two weeks of indecision, finally agreed to run for House speaker on Tuesday -- on the condition that he receive support from all factions of the party, including the Freedom Caucus. Since he has received that support, Ryan appears to be a lock for the speakership.

"While no consensus exists among members of the House Freedom Caucus regarding Chairman Ryan's preconditions for serving, we believe that these issues can be resolved within our Conference in due time," the Freedom Caucus said in a statement. 

Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), a founding member of the caucus, indicated Ryan would have enough votes if he decides to stay in the race: