Republican Congressman Ken Buck of Colorado has announced he will resign from the House of Representatives by the end of next week. Buck, who has served in Congress since 2014, cited his resignation as an opportunity to spend more time with his family and to stay involved in politics.
While his resignation may come as a surprise to some, it is not entirely unexpected. Buck had previously announced he would not seek reelection, and speculation had been swirling about his future plans. This news adds to the mounting number of GOP lawmakers who have chosen not to seek reelection or have resigned from office.
Buck’s resignation will certainly be a blow to the Republican majority in the House. With his departure, the already slim 218 to 213 majority will be further squeezed. Republicans will now have to ensure unity among their members, as just two defectors on any given issue could lead to defeat. This could prove to be a daunting task in such a divided political climate.
Ken Buck is resigning…. Next week. This give Republicans a ONE SEAT majority.
Can’t state enough how cruel and terrible much of the DC Republican class it. It’s not about country, never was.
Instead of seeing out the end of their term they can’t wait to bolt to CNN and get…
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 12, 2024
In addition to his work in Congress, Buck made headlines recently when he introduced a resolution calling on Vice President Kamala Harris and the Cabinet to remove President Joe Biden from office under the 25th Amendment. This move was met with criticism and backlash from Democrats, but Buck stood by his conviction that Biden’s mental and physical health were not up to par to serve as President.
Buck’s departure will also leave a vacancy in the House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees, where he currently serves. This will undoubtedly leave a hole in the Republican ranks of these committees and could potentially affect their ability to push their agenda.
Meanwhile, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has announced plans to schedule a special election to fill Buck’s seat swiftly. This election could have a major impact on the already slim Republican majority in the House.
If the seat remains in Republican hands, the party will maintain a one-seat margin over the Democrats. However, if a Democrat wins the seat, the margin will narrow, potentially leading to a tie on crucial votes.
Please listen to this from @dbongino he’s absolutely right! If Ken Buck isn’t lying and 3 more RINO’s leave, Jeffries becomes speaker. All investigations end , certification is in peril AND Bucks sudden departure puts Bobert at risk.
YES they hate Trump that much. pic.twitter.com/TIQ1snveLC— Rosie Memos (@almostjingo) March 13, 2024
