‘It has been an honor to serve the people of Colorado’s 4th District in Congress for the past 9 years,’ he said.
The Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives will shrink again next week, as Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) announced this afternoon he is resigning from his seat effective next Friday, March 22.
“Today, I am announcing that I will depart Congress at the end of next week,” he said. “I look forward to staying involved in our political process, as well as spending more time in Colorado and with my family.”
He previously announced last November that he was retiring from Congress at the end of his current term, citing Congress’s inability to deal with major issues.
His brief statement announcing the decision to leave a vacancy before elections later this year was posted on social media during a recess of the House Judiciary Committee’s questioning of former Biden classified documents special counsel Robert Hur. Mr. Buck serves as the third highest ranking Republican on the committee.
“It has been an honor to serve the people of Colorado’s 4th District in Congress for the past 9 years,” he added in his statement. “I want to thank them for their support and encouragement throughout the years.”
Shortly after Mr. Buck’s announcement, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis said a special election to fill his seat for the remainder of his term would be held on June 25, aligning with an already scheduled primary for congressional elections in the state.
Voters will be able to choose either the same person to fill the remainder of his term and compete in the November general election, or choose a different candidate for each.
Rep Lauren Bobert (R-Colo.) had already announced that she plans to change districts and run for Mr. Buck’s soon-to-be-vacant seat, but has not yet announced if she plans to run in the special election, according to The Denver Post.
Why Now?
In an interview with CNN directly following the meeting’s recess and his announcement on social media, Mr. Buck said he had a passion for changing electoral laws in the United States and is leaving to “find the right organization to join” and “start working on that issue.”
By Chase Smith
