Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) will depart Congress at the end of next week, narrowing House Republicans‘ majority even further as a wave of Republican incumbents prepares to leave at the end of this term.
Buck announced his early retirement on Tuesday in a post to X, after deciding last November that he would not seek reelection in 2024. He will finish his term as a congressman on March 22.
“Today, I am announcing that I will depart Congress at the end of next week,” Buck said Tuesday. “I look forward to staying involved in our political process, as well as spending more time in Colorado and with my family.”
Buck’s early retirement took many by surprise — including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). He told reporters on Tuesday that he did not know ahead of time that Buck was planning to retire early.
“I was surprised by Ken’s announcement. I look forward to talking to him about that,” Johnson said.
In an interview with CNN shortly after announcing his early retirement, Buck said he is going to leave Congress and find an organization to work toward changing electoral rules because “everywhere I go,” people in Colorado are telling him they are “not happy with [former President Donald] Trump, and they’re not happy with [President Joe] Biden.”
“We have to have better candidates, up and down the ballot,” Buck continued. “Not just president but Senate, House, local offices — we’ve got to find better ways to elect candidates and bring America together.”
He said he thinks the House is dysfunctional and has “devolved into bickering and nonsense.”
“It is the worst year of the nine years and three months that I’ve been in Congress,” Buck said. “And having talked to former members, it’s the worst year in 40-50 years to be in Congress.”
Buck’s departure from Congress marks the latest retirement among House Republican lawmakers. Of the 25 members leaving the House and retiring from public office, 14 are Republicans. Other Republicans who have left Congress early include former Reps. Bill Johnson of Ohio, Kevin McCarthy of California, and Chris Stewart of Utah.
With Buck leaving at the end of next week, Republicans will hold 218 seats to Democrats’ 213. With that majority breakdown, Republicans would only be able to lose two votes to pass legislation along party lines.
Buck’s retirement also sets up a special election in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, and all eyes are on Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) to see if she will enter the race. Under Colorado law, Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO) must schedule a special election if a vacancy in the congressional delegation occurs more than 90 days before the general election.
Boebert, who represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, is one of several Republicans running to replace Buck. Most of the Republican candidates running to replace him will likely shift their resources to focus on the special election, but Boebert is the only one risking a congressional career if she enters the contest.
Given Buck’s seat is in a red district, whichever Republican wins the special election will be in a comfortable position to keep the seat in the November general election. Boebert had opted out of running for reelection in the 3rd District following clear signs that her likely Democratic opponent, Adam Frisch, might be more successful in his second challenge against her than he was in 2022. Boebert narrowly beat Frisch in the midterm elections, but polling and funding show Frisch was in a better position to defeat her in 2024 before she switched districts.
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If Boebert decides to go for and wins the special election, she would have to resign the 3rd District seat, creating a new congressional vacancy. If she does not run in the special election, however, she could risk losing the general election to Buck’s replacement.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Boebert’s office and campaign for comment.