Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) has suggested that more Republican lawmakers may soon follow in his footsteps after he announced his early exit from Congress Tuesday.
Asked whether he’s taking heat from colleagues over his decision to resign, Buck told Axios: “I think it’s the next three people that leave that they’re going to be worried about.”
Buck, a hardline conservative and member of the House Freedom Caucus, had announced last year that he was retiring from Congress at the end of his term. But, he moved up the timeline on Tuesday to the end of next week citing the dysfunction in Congress.
In a statement on X/Twitter, Buck wrote: “It has been an honor to serve the people of Colorado’s 4th District in Congress for the past 9 years. I want to thank them for their support and encouragement throughout the years. Today, I am announcing that I will depart Congress at the end of next week. I look forward to staying involved in our political process, as well as spending more time in Colorado with my family.”
He later told CNN in an interview that this “is the worst year of the nine years and three months that I’ve been in Congress.”
“This place has just devolved into this bickering and nonsense and not really doing the job for the American people,” he added.
Buck’s sudden announcement caught House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and members of House leadership off guard.
“I was surprised by Ken’s announcement. I look forward to talking with him about that,” Johnson told reporters.
With Buck’s departure, House Republicans’ narrow majority shrinks even further to 218–213, with three vacancies.
Of the three vacancies, Democrats are expected to pick up one in next month’s special election to replace Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.). Republicans are then expected to win special elections in May and June to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy(R-Calif.) and Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), respectively.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said he intends to set the special election to fill Buck’s seat for June 25, the same day as the primary election.
