Congressman Ken Buck - Colorado District 4
As noted in Daily Kos elections today Rep. Ken Buck has stunned the state of Colorado by announcing he will depart his office on March 22.
I heard it from the Colorado Sun.
U.S. Rep. Ken Buck will leave Congress on March 22, the Windsor Republican announced Tuesday in a decision that’s sure to scramble the highly competitive race to replace him that includes Lauren Boebert.
“It has been an honor to serve the people of Colorado’s 4th District in Congress for the past 9 years,” Buck said in a written statement. “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 and with my family.”
Buck, who was already planning to retire after his current term ends in January 2025, didn’t provide more information on his decision.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
NBC News:
His departure will cut the House Republican margin to 218-213; Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will still have two votes to spare before needing Democrats to govern.
More news is coming out as I write this report. He does not sound very happy.
Gotta love this one:
Transcript of above tweet.
GOP Rep. Pat Fallon reacts to Ken Buck leaving Congress next week: “Very surprising. Very disturbing. Very alarming. Very concerning.”Meanwhile, a Democratic operative texts this:
Re: Buck
At this point. Just give us the majority for the rest of the year. Good grief.
I’ll add more as I get it but I have to head out for an appointment soon. Feel free to post any news you find in the comments. A colleague asked me if I thought he was resigning to help the Dems. What do you think? I think he’s doing so because he’s just fed up. (That is not a poll option since I can’t seem to edit it.)
Update: According to ABC News here is the who, what, how, when of the replacement process. Thanks to Just Saying for the link in the comments.
Buck's March 22 departure will trigger a special election to serve the remainder of his term. Under Colorado law, that must happen within 85 to 100 days — or right around the June 25 Republican primary to run in the November race to serve a full term.
Several Republicans are already running to replace him in November, including Boebert, who moved across the state to run for Buck's more Republican-friendly seat anchored in Colorado's eastern plains. But political insiders were already noting Tuesday that Buck's timing could block Boebert from taking over his seat.
It all depends on the timing of the special election, which must be held between June 15 and June 30. A committee of Colorado Republicans will pick the party's nominee to serve the remainder of Buck's current term, and it's unclear if they would choose the controversial Boebert, who has no prior ties to the district. That Republican nominee would likely easily win the special election in the overwhelmingly conservative district.
If the special election happens before the primary or even the day of it, the likely Republican winner — now a member of Congress — will have an advantage in the primary, as GOP voters will have just backed them. This would make it harder for other primary contenders who hope to represent the party in November's race.
ABC also reports that the CNN interview included this:
During an appearance on CNN, Buck lamented that he hadn't been able to ask a question in the hearing yet even though he is the third-ranking Republican on the committee.
I was listening/watching the hearing today and didn’t even notice Rep. Buck was seated. The house GOP leadership is screwing themselves every which way.
Summary:
- The Colorado primary is scheduled for June 25th.
- The special election must be held between June 15th and June 30th.
- A committee of Colorado Republicans will pick the party's nominee to serve the remainder of Buck's current term. (I think that’s what’s known in CO as the vacancy committee. Generally, it is the central committee of the district. In Democratic rules. Republican rules may differ.)
UPDATE: Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024 · 11:19:54 PM +00:00 · greenchiledem
Update #2 regarding the process: Thanks to RWN who posted the following in a comment.
In Colorado, a special election must take place Sometime after the 25th, along with the primary date.
Colorado law requires the Governor to set the date of the special election no less than 85 days and no more than 100 days after the date the vacancy occurs. Once the Governor sets the date, the parties will identify candidates, and unaffiliated candidates may petition onto the special election ballot.”
www.colorado.gov/.…
To be in the race, Lauren Boebert will have to resign to be on the ballot. So this is a double. If she resigns to run in CD 4 from CD 3, there will be another special election in Colorado, where Frisch will have a treasure of funds to wage both campaigns. If Boebert does not resign and continues to run, she must oppose a sitting Congressperson in a Republican district.
Buck has boxed her out. Looking like CO might pick up another Congressional seat, leaving a contested CD5 without an incumbent and CD4. That is a yowzer!
Who knew Colorado would have all this drama going on in the congressional races this year? Thanks to LB who knows the voters in the 3rd don’t like her. And has so much money that she thinks she will go to the 4th, a sure thing if she can win the primary. Holy cow!
And although Rep. Buck has ‘boxed her out’, that was not his motive for resigning today. It sounds as if he was so po’d about being dissed at today’s judiciary hearing that he left the hearing, went to his desk, and wrote out an immediate resignation letter. GOP screws themselves again. Oh, and Rep. Jim Jordan-OH-04 is the chair of the judiciary committee. Yes, he is responsible for the immediate resignation.
Hey thanks, everyone for all the comments, feedback, and recs.
