Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) announced this week that he was retiring from Congress while criticizing the Republican Party. The move could open up an opportunity for allies of former President Donald Trump to win the seat in next year’s GOP primary.
Buck told CNN that he was quitting for several different reasons. First, he said that “Congress refuses to deal with the big issues that we need to deal with.” He said that Washington had not “addressed the sustainability” of large government programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
“We haven’t addressed the huge spending issue that we have. By the end of next year, we will have $36 trillion of debt and that also is just unsustainable,” he said.
Furthermore, the representative said that there is currently a “huge credibility problem because we continue to talk about and lie about the 2020 election as if it was stolen, as if Joe Biden wasn’t the real winner of that election.”
He further said that those arrested after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol protests were “not political prisoners but rather committed crimes. They assaulted police officers. They damaged government property.”
“So I don’t think we can have the credibility we need with the American public if we continue the lies that we’re now telling,” he said.
Buck signed onto a lawsuit contesting the election results of the 2020 race. He later signed a letter stating that Congress could not interfere with the results of the election.
During the debate over who should succeed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) last month, Buck asked Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) whether or not President Joe Biden won the election legitimately. He did not vote for Jordan when the Ohio representative was nominated for speaker.
Buck has represented his Colorado district since 2015 and previously served as the Chair of the Colorado Republican Party.
Buck is a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus but has fallen out with a number of other Republicans over his political positions.
Buck’s exit from Congress could allow for other candidates to seek the Republican nomination, including Trump ally Trent Leisy.
Swamp 25 knows they’re toast!
Ken Buck is dropping out of the race and MAGA Candidate Trent Leisy is there to clean up his mess
Hey Colorado’s 4th CD – time to send a Patriot to DC @realTrentLeisy
This is how we take back power for the People https://t.co/NklGBn2Eih pic.twitter.com/DXIDKPQq1l
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) November 1, 2023
