House Republicans nominated Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc. to be their nominee for the next Speaker of the House. Now, the House of Representatives is expected to secure Ryan's position as Speaker in a full House vote on Thursday. If elected, the 45-year-old Wisconsin congressman would become the youngest to ascend to the top House leadership post since before the Civil War.

In a secret-ballot vote held Wednesday, 200 House GOP members voted to elect the former 2012 vice Republican presidential candidate, while only 43 voted for Florida Republican Daniel Webster, reports CNN.

"This begins a new day in the House of Representatives," Ryan said after the vote, according to USA Today. "(Speaker) John Boehner served with humility and distinction and we owe him a debt of gratitude. But tomorrow we are turning the page...Our party has lost its vision and we're going to replace it with a vision."

Ryan added that the country is currently "on the wrong track" and pledged to unify the members of his party.

"We think the country's heading in the wrong direction, and we have an obligation here in the people's House to do the people's business and to give this country a better way forward," he said. "We are going to respect the people by representing the people."

Ryan was initially very reluctant to serve in the Speakership position after Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy abruptly dropped out of the race earlier this month. In addition to dealing with a small, but powerful faction of extremists in the party, the job also requires Ryan to sacrifice his family life in order to work long hours and travel.

However, the lawmaker eventually caved into mounting pressure as Republican leaders urged him to take on the role and use his influence to unify the fractured party.