Colorado Republican Rep. Ken Buck will resign next week, making him the third person to resign from Congress before the end of the 118th Congress, his office announced Tuesday.
Buck, 65, said in a statement that he has been “honored to serve the people of Colorado’s 4th Congressional District” for nearly five terms, but that he will “retire from Congress” on March 22.
He declined to say what role he would play, but added, “I look forward to staying involved in the political process and spending more time with Colorado and my family.” he added.
In an interview minutes after the news broke, CNN’s Dana Bash asked Buck whether former President Donald Trump’s nomination as the Republican presidential nominee influenced his decision. .
“I want to be involved in that process because I think our system is broken in the way we choose candidates,” Ms. Buck told her.
“This is the worst year in the nine years and three months I’ve been a member of Congress. I’ve talked to former members and they say this is the worst year for members of Congress in 40 to 50 years.”
But the Colorado congressman is also eyeing a job as an on-air commentator on CNN, the Post scooped in September.
“Maybe his deal with CNN is coming sooner than expected,” joked one Hill official.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) also resigned before their terms expired.
With Buck’s departure, the House Republican majority now stands at 218-213, leaving three vacancies to be filled in a special election by November.
Congressman Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) resigned on February 2, leaving only one vacant seat for House Democrats.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis must set a date for a special election to replace Buck at least 90 days before the general election.
Colorado’s primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives is currently scheduled for May 25th.
Buck announced in November that he would step down after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was unanimously elected chairman of the Republican conference.
Eight Republicans, including Buck, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), joined all House Democrats in voting on October 3 to remove McCarthy from the Speaker’s chair.
That same month, Buck blocked several speaker candidates from taking the gavel, choosing instead to vote for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota on each ballot.
He refused to vote for candidates who said he believed the 2020 election was stolen, and later criticized Republicans for “relying on the lie that the 2020 election was stolen,” he said on Jan. 6. “The government continues to rely on the narrative and political prisoners from January.” Sixth and other things. ”
“If we’re going to solve difficult problems, we have to deal with some very unpleasant truths, or lies, and make sure we project to the public what the truth is,” Buck said on MSNBC when announcing his retirement. It must be done,” he said.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who did not vote to expel McCarthy, joined state Reps. Richard Holtorff and Mike Lynch, former radio host Deborah Flora and Logan County Commissioners. is running to replace Mr. McCarthy, along with former state senators. . Jerry Sonnenberg.
The winner of the special election will likely have an advantage as an incumbent against a Democratic or Republican challenger in November.
