By Mark Gray
5:00pm PDT, Mar 18, 2024
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Colorado Republican Ken Buck surprised his colleagues when he announced he'd be leaving the House of Representatives on March 22.
The decision not only cuts into Republicans' already razor-thin majority in the House — it could also have a detrimental effect on Lauren Boebert's campaign to replace him. The controversial congresswoman is leaving Colorado's District 3, her very competitive current district, and trying to take over Ken's more Republican-friendly district, District 4. However, his departure means a special election will occur on June 25 — which Lauren can't be a part of unless she leaves her current seat, which would then trigger another special election in District 3. In Colorado's District 4, the incumbent — who will serve from June through December — has traditionally held a huge advantage. Lauren has said she will not leave her current congressional seat to take part in the special election, meaning she won't be the incumbent in November's general election.
"Ken Buck's announcement yesterday was a gift to the uniparty," she wrote on X on March 13. "The establishment concocted a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election… Forcing an unnecessary Special Election on the same day as the Primary Election will confuse voters, result in a lameduck Congressman on day one, and leave the 4th District with no representation for more than three months. The 4th District deserves better."
"I will not further imperil the already very slim House Republican majority by resigning my current seat and will continue to deliver on my constituents' priorities while also working hard to earn the votes of the people of Colorado's 4th District who have made clear they are hungry for a real conservative," she added.
Keep reading to learn how Ken and other politically-minded folks are reacting to his impending departure and the impact it has on Lauren's campaign…
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"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, 50 years to be in Congress. But I'm leaving because I think there's a job to do out there," Ken Buck told CNN of his decision to leave Congress next week. "This place has just devolved into this bickering and nonsense and not really doing the job for the American people."
While chatting with reporters on Wednesday, he said, "This place just keeps going downhill, and I don't need to spend my time here. We've taken impeachment and we've made it a social media issue as opposed to a constitutional concept. Mike Johnson's ability to talk me into staying here, is going to be as successful as his ability of talking to me into unconstitutional impeachments."
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"Thank you @RepKenBuck for your unwavering support of my bills to end forced arbitration/NDAs for work sexual misconduct. I will miss u but get why u r resigning: 'We have to have better candidates up and down the ballot, not just President, but Senate, House, local offices.' Yep." —Gretchen Carlson
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"Please sign the discharge petition for aid to Ukraine before you leave, @RepKenBuck" —"The View" co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin
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"By resigning early, Ken Buck is giving an advantage to anyone but Lauren Boebert. She cannot run in the special election since she already occupies a seat, so another person will be elected to serve out the term, and it won't be Lauren. Smart" —Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger
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"We had another member of Congress resign today. So now I'll be told, 'Chip, we only have a one-seat majority or two-seat majority.' I don't even know what it is anymore. Let me ask the question, does it matter? In 2018, we had the House, we had the Senate, we had the White House, and we had a bigger majority than we have today, and we utterly failed to secure the border. Totally dropped the ball. Didn't do it. Why? I remember why! They would say, 'Chip, we don't have 60 votes in the Senate.' Let me be very clear to the American people back home, there is always an excuse for why those who campaign to come to this town fail to deliver. Always." —Rep. Chip Roy
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"Ken 'knuck' if you Buck is at it again! He's decided to throw the next week putting Boebert at a disadvantage and shrinking the fragile republican house majority, even more! This announcement just happened to take place on the same day that his judiciary chairman, Jim Jordan, who doesn't have a bar card, decided to disrespect former prosecutor Buck in committee. The one thing that no one is discussing that I think is a possibility is a no labels run from him. He said on CNN, people don't like either candidate and he wants better candidates… that's not really an explanation to leave early unless you've been courted by no labels." —Rep. Jasmine Crockett
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Ken Buck's resignation is "kind of to screw Lauren Boebert," Steve Bannon said on his podcast.
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"Throughout his time in Congress, @RepKenBuck has been independent-minded and consistent in his convictions. Wishing him the best as he soon embarks on a new chapter in his life of service." —Rep. Ted Lieu
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"Republican lawmakers with a conscience and a commitment to our Constitutional Republic resign rather than join liars and seditious cowards" —Mia Farrow
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"And she has the gall to say no one is interested in the race for #CO03 anymore now that's she's carpetbagged to #CO04. Let's show her it's not always about her." —District 3 Congressional candidate Adam Frisch
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"I was surprised by Ken's announcement. I look forward to talking to him about that. I didn't know" —House Speaker Mike Johnson
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"As of today, Speaker Mike Johnson is two bad colds away from having to reach across the aisle to get anything done, such as keep the government open and functioning. A vote on funding 70% of the federal government is just days away. As for [Ken] Buck, the representative from Colorado's eastern plains, is a rare Republican indeed. He didn't bend the knee to Donald Trump. What will the American electorate think about all this chaos? Come November, the current Republican House majority could become the minority real quick." —Dan Rather
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Rep. Pat Fallon told NBC of Ken Bucks's exit, "[It's] very surprising. Very disturbing. Very alarming. Very concerning."
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–"I am really going to miss my friend @RepKenBuck in Congress. We worked closely together on many issues including antitrust bills, including preserving local newspapers and breaking up monopolies, as well as banning members of Congress from trading stocks. He believed in preserving our democracy and respecting our elections – and said so, against his party. While there was plenty we disagreed on, it was a true pleasure to work with him and witness his integrity and leadership. Thank you, Ken!" —Rep. Pramila Jayapal
