[ad_1]
Buck had said in November that he would not seek re-election, but his announcement on Tuesday that he would be leaving Congress so early was a surprise.
If Buck were to step down, Republicans would hold a 218-213 lead over Democrats in the House. That means if everyone is present and votes, Republicans can afford to lose just two votes to pass legislation along party lines.
Buck’s resignation will create a vacancy in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, which he has represented since 2015. The district covers much of the eastern half of the state, making it a Republican-friendly district.
Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, who currently represents the more competitive 3rd District, announced in December that she will seek re-election in the 4th District. Former President Donald Trump recently endorsed her in her new district, but she still faces several other Republicans in her primary.
Bach has clashed with the majority in the Republican conference in recent months, particularly opposing the party’s launch of an impeachment inquiry against President Biden. In a Washington Post op-ed in September, Buck criticized the study for relying on “imagined history.”
Buck was also one of eight Republicans who joined with Democrats to vote to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the speakership.
When Buck announced his retirement from Congress last year, he expressed disappointment that many Republicans continued to insist on the “big lie” that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
“Our country is on a collision course with reality, and the only way forward is to stand firm on the truth, even the uncomfortable truth,” Buck said at the time. “Too many Republican leaders are lying to America.”
Buck also said Republicans are downplaying the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, where a pro-Trump mob tried to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory. He also cited Republican arguments that the subsequent prosecution amounted to misconduct. Weaponizing the judicial system.
“Such insidious rhetoric creates widespread cynicism and undermines Americans’ confidence in the rule of law,” Buck said. “It is impossible for the Republican Party to confront our problems and propose a course correction for the future while remaining obsessed with retaliation and revenge for the human injustices of the past.”
Before joining Congress, Mr. Buck served as chairman of the Colorado Republican Party and as the state’s district attorney.
[ad_2]
Source link
