Elections are impossible to predict, especially these days. But no one had this on their radar.
And a leading Republican drops out of the election in a staggering twist.
Last week, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) announced that he was retiring early from Congress on March 22.
His retirement will cause a special election to take place on June 25 so that his seat in Colorado’s 3rd District is filled temporarily.
Statement from Congressman Ken Buck on his departure from Congress. pic.twitter.com/orjSzenZnv
— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) March 12, 2024
House Republicans aren’t thrilled with the news because now their majority is even smaller.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) announced a few months ago that she was originally planning to run for Buck’s seat in the 3rd District when he said that he wouldn’t be running for reelection this year. She would in turn leave her seat in the state’s 4th Congressional District.
But now that Buck is retiring early, Boebert has declared that she has no plans to run in the special election to fill his seat.
If she did run, she would have to leave her seat in the 4th District.
Boebert also did not hesitate to criticize Buck’s decision to leave his post earlier than planned.
“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 monts. The 4th District deserves better,” the congresswoman said on X.
“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.”
“I am the only Trump-endorsed, America First candidate in this race and will win the 4th District’s Primary Election on June 25th and General Election on November 5th.”
Ken Buck’s announcement yesterday was a gift to the uniparty.
The establishment concocted a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election I’m winning by 25 points.
Forcing an unnecessary Special Election on the same day as the Primary Election will confuse voters, result in…
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) March 13, 2024
Buck, who is currently on the House Judiciary Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee, has served in the House since 2014.
For the most part he’s voted with conservatives on a variety of issues, but has had times where he goes rogue and votes against the Republican Party.
When the House voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Buck was one of three Republicans in the House who voted against impeachment.
Once Buck leaves Congress, Republicans will have just 218 seats.
Democrats aren’t far behind with 213, making the GOP margin razor thin.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
