Colorado Representative Ken Buck (R) announced that he will be resigning from Congress on March 22.
“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,” Buck wrote. “I look forward to staying involved in our political process, as well as spending more time in Colorado and with my family.”
Statement from Congressman Ken Buck on his departure from Congress. pic.twitter.com/orjSzenZnv
— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) March 12, 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he was “surprised” by Buck’s announcement.
“I was surprised by Ken’s announcement. I look forward to talking to him about that,” he told reporters. “I did not know.”
Speaker Mike Johnson was caught off guard by the announcement from Ken Buck retiring early.
— Haley Talbot (@haleytalbotcnn) March 12, 2024
“I was surprised by Ken’s announcement. I look forward to talking to him about that,” he told reporters.
He said he did not know in advance: “I did not know.” pic.twitter.com/7egUzQcBRg
Following his announcement Buck appeared in an interview with CNN saying, “It is the worst year of the 9 years and 3 months that I’ve been in Congress. And having talked to former members it’s the worst year in 40-50 years to be in Congress. But I’m leaving because I think there’s a job to do out there that I want to go do.”
With Buck’s departure, the House of Representatives will have 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats. Republicans can only afford to lose two votes on any issue.
Buck previously declared he would not be seeking another term due to the GOP’s “insidious narratives.”
“Our nation is on a collision course with reality and a steadfast commitment to truth, even uncomfortable truths, is the only way forward,” he said in a video posted on X. “Too many Republican leaders are lying to America, claiming that the 2020 election was stolen, describing Jan. 6 as an unguided tour of the Capitol and asserting that the ensuing prosecutions are a weaponization of our justice system. These insidious narratives breed widespread cynicism and erode Americans’ confidence in the rule of law.”
