Ken Buck is leaving the “dysfunctional” House early, further weakening Johnson’s GOP majority
Rep. Ken Buck to Depart Congress, Further Narrowing House Republicans’ Majority
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) will be leaving Congress at the end of next week, adding to the wave of Republican incumbents who are preparing to depart at the end of this term. Buck made the surprising announcement on Tuesday, stating that he had decided not to seek reelection in 2024 and will finish his term as a congressman on March 22.
In an interview with CNN, Buck revealed that he plans to leave Congress and work towards changing electoral rules. He expressed the need for better candidates at all levels of government and emphasized the importance of finding ways to unite America.
Buck’s early retirement caught House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) off guard, who expressed his surprise and mentioned his intention to discuss the matter with Buck.
With Buck’s departure, House Republicans’ majority will be further reduced, leaving them with 218 seats compared to Democrats’ 213. This slim majority means that Republicans can only afford to lose two votes when passing legislation along party lines.
Buck’s retirement also triggers a special election in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. All eyes are on Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) to see if she will enter the race. If she does, she risks her current congressional career, but given the district’s red leaning, the Republican candidate who wins the special election will likely have a strong chance of retaining the seat in the November general election.
It remains to be seen whether Boebert will run in the special election or focus on the general election in her current district. The Washington Examiner has reached out to Boebert’s office and campaign for comment.
Why did Rep. Ken Buck announce that he will be leaving Congress?
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) has announced that he will be leaving Congress at the end of next week, adding to the growing number of Republican incumbents who are choosing not to seek reelection. Buck made the surprising announcement on Tuesday, stating that he will not be running for reelection in 2024 and will finish his current term as a congressman on March 22.
In an interview with CNN, Buck revealed that he plans to leave Congress in order to work towards changing electoral rules. He expressed the need for better candidates at all levels of government and emphasized the importance of finding ways to unite America.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed his surprise at Buck’s early retirement and mentioned his intention to discuss the matter with Buck. The departure of Buck from Congress will further reduce the House Republicans’ majority, leaving them with 218 seats compared to Democrats’ 213. This slim majority means that Republicans can only afford to lose two votes when passing legislation along party lines.
Buck’s retirement also triggers a special election in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. All eyes are on Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) to see if she will enter the race. If she does, she risks her current congressional career, but given the district’s red leaning, the Republican candidate who wins the special election will likely have a strong chance of retaining the seat in the November general election.
It remains to be seen whether Boebert will run in the special election or focus on the general election in her current district. The Washington Examiner has reached out to Boebert’s office and campaign for comment.
In conclusion, Rep. Ken Buck’s decision to leave Congress further narrows the House Republicans’ majority and sets the stage for a special election in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. The political landscape is shifting, and all eyes are on the upcoming elections to see how this will impact the balance of power in the House of Representatives.
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