Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) announced on Tuesday that he will be leaving Congress at the end of the week, vacating his seat and narrowing the GOP majority in the House even more.
When Buck officially leaves, the GOP majority will go from 219-213 down to 218-213 and that majority is expected to narrow after a vacant Democrat seat is filled in April. That small margin means that Republicans will hold only a two-seat majority in April, giving them very little room for mistakes or absences.
“I look forward to staying involved in our political process, as well as spending more time in Colorado and with my family,” Buck said, without revealing what role he would play. He later revealed a little bit more about why he is vacating his seat.
“I think our system is broken in how we choose candidates and I want to get involved in that process,” Buck told CNN. “It is the worst year of the nine years and three months that I’ve been in Congress. And having talked to former members, it’s the worst year in 40 to 50 years to be in Congress.”
Buck’s decision to resign on or before March 22 will cause the special election to be held between June 15 and June 30 with Colorado’s primary set for June 25. The winner of the special election will have a big advantage over their competition, Democrat or Republican, when the general election is held in November.
Ken Buck's resignation appears carefully timed. If he leaves office on March 22, the special election to replace him will have to be scheduled between June 15 and 30. Colorado's primary election is set for June 25. pic.twitter.com/Aqq9YqzQ11
— Chase Woodruff (@dcwoodruff) March 12, 2024
While Republicans hold a razor-thin majority right now, reinforcements are expected. The special election for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) vacant seat in California will be held on May 21 and will most likely be won by a Republican, while the special election for Rep. Bill Johnson’s (R-OH) seat will be on March 19 and will also likely go to a Republican.
Buck sparked some discussion about a potential run for president with his rhetoric about the two current choices.
“Everybody I’ve talked to is complaining about the choices they have for president. And it is time that we start talking about how we elect presidents and how we elect senators and congressmen and local leaders,” Buck told reporters Tuesday.
The 65-year-old quickly added, “I am not running for president.”
