Folks—he’s going for it. After winning Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In Award of the Day” on Wednesday, Paul Ryan has declared his candidacy for Speaker of the House, the Associated Press reports.

Also on Wednesday the House Freedom Caucus said it would support a potential Ryan bid.

According to The Washington Post, in a letter to colleagues on Thursday, Ryan wrote:

After talking with so many of you, and hearing your words of encouragement, I believe we are ready to move forward as a one, united team. And I am ready and eager to be our speaker. This is just the beginning of our work. There is a long road ahead. So let’s get started.

Ryan, NPR reminds us, had issued a statement not 20 minutes after House Majority Leader withdrew his bid to succeed John Boehner as Speaker, reading, “I will not be a candidate.” And yet, here we are.

Photo credit: AP Images. Contact the author of this post: brendan.oconnor@gawker.com.