WASHINGTON – Republican Representative Ken Buck of Colorado, known for his tendency to go against his party’s stance, announced last fall that he would not be seeking re-election. In a surprising turn of events, he declared on Tuesday that he will resign from Congress at the end of next week, further reducing the GOP’s slim majority in the House.
The departure of Buck will diminish the House Republican margin to 218-213, leaving Speaker Mike Johnson with a narrow two-vote cushion. The unexpected resignation poses additional challenges for the GOP, as illnesses and absences could complicate the already delicate balance of power in Congress.
Following the sudden announcement, Speaker Johnson expressed his surprise at not being informed beforehand by Buck. Other Republican colleagues also expressed shock and concern over Buck’s decision to step down, with Rep. Pat Fallon of Texas describing it as “very surprising” and alarming.
As a member of the House Freedom Caucus, Buck gained a reputation for frequently diverging from the party line on significant issues. He notably criticized the GOP for supporting former President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud and voiced skepticism about finding grounds to impeach President Joe Biden.
Buck’s refusal to endorse a key Trump ally, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, for Speaker in October led to multiple death threats from conservatives. More recently, Buck broke ranks with his party by voting against the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
With Buck’s impending departure from Congress, the GOP faces further instability within its ranks, adding complexity to the political landscape. His resignation marks a significant shift in the political dynamics within the House of Representatives, setting the stage for potential changes in the party’s direction moving forward.