Republican Congressman Ken Buck of Colorado announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election after his current term, citing the Republican Party’s loss of direction as the primary reason for his decision. Buck, who has represented Colorado’s Fourth District since 2015, gained attention last month when he joined seven other Republicans in voting to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. This move sparked a bitter internal conflict within the party that lasted for weeks.
Buck’s dissatisfaction with his party has been evident for months, particularly regarding their refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election. In an interview with The New York Times, he expressed concern over the party’s identity crisis and its continued denial of the election results, stating that this would undermine their credibility with the American people.
The Congressman also highlighted the party’s reluctance to tackle significant issues as a contributing factor to his decision. He emphasized the stark differences in priorities between himself and his colleagues, making it difficult for him to continue serving within the Republican ranks. Buck’s announcement came shortly after Rep. Kay Granger of Texas also declared that she would not seek re-election after 26 years in Congress.
The prolonged speakership battle within the House Republicans may have further exacerbated the divide in priorities. It lasted over two weeks before settling on Mike Johnson, a far-right Republican known for his denial of the election results and staunch conservative views on issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and gun control. The Daily Beast recently reported that Johnson does not even have a bank account, as revealed by years of personal financial disclosures.
Buck initially criticized McCarthy for failing to prioritize federal spending cuts, but he later opposed Rep. Jim Jordan as McCarthy’s replacement. Buck argued that Jordan’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results and his support for the January 6 Capitol riot disqualified him from the speakership.
The Congressman faced backlash for questioning the grounds of his party’s impeachment efforts against President Joe Biden and for deviating from the party line on other occasions, which reportedly led to death threats.
Buck is not the only Republican expressing dissatisfaction with the state of the party. Rep. Debbie Lesko of Arizona announced in October that she would not seek re-election, citing the broken state of Washington. Senator Mitt Romney of Utah made a similar announcement in September, criticizing both former President Donald Trump and President Biden.
Although Buck is stepping away from Congress, he emphasized that he is not retiring outright. He believes he can make a greater impact outside the Capitol, advocating for traditional conservative values in various areas such as technology, foreign policy, and other important issues.
In conclusion, Republican Congressman Ken Buck’s decision not to seek re-election reflects his belief that the party has lost its way and his dissatisfaction with his colleagues’ denial of the 2020 election results. He also cited differences in priorities as a reason for his departure. Buck’s announcement adds to a growing number of Republicans expressing their discontent with the state of the party. Despite leaving Congress, he intends to continue fighting for conservative values and making an impact in other arenas.
