Rep Buck To Depart Congress At End Of Week In Major Blow House GOP Majority

Republican House Representative Ken Buck (R-CO) has announced on X that he will retire from Congress at the end of the next week. Buck had previously announced his intention to retire from Congress in November, but see out his term.

• Buck's departure will further shrink House Speaker Mike Johnson's razor thin majority in the House of Representatives to two votes.
• According to Colorado law, a special election for Buck's Colorado 4th district will be called by Governor Jared Polis (D-CO), likely to come in May.
• The special election throws up some major complications for the GOP as fellow Colorado Republican, Rep Lauren Boebert (R-CO), has already declared her intention to run for Buck's vacant seat in November. Should she choose to run in the special election, she would have to resign her seat in 3rd district prompting another special election in the state.
• Sahil Kapur at NBC reports: "GOP Rep. Pat Fallon reacts to Ken Buck leaving Congress next week: “Very surprising. Very disturbing. Very alarming. Very concerning.”"
• Lisa Desjardins at PBS reports: "[Speaker Johnson] and [House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA)] were surprised by Ken Buck’s decision to leave next week. Told us they would love to know why."