Ken Buck, a well-known Republican from Colorado, recently announced that he won’t be running for reelection. In a brief video, he took a swipe at fellow Republicans, accusing them of being too focused on settling past scores instead of focusing on Democratic policies. This news comes from an AP News report on November 4, 2023.
Ken Buck has been in the spotlight for his no-nonsense approach, independent stance, and his background as a federal prosecutor. He’s gained national recognition for standing up against Donald Trump’s unfounded claims about the 2020 election, which sets him apart from most other GOP members.
Despite his plans to serve out his current term in Congress, he’s expected to continue being a vocal critic of his own party during his remaining months in office. He’s been skeptical about the impeachment inquiry into President Biden, calling it baseless.
However, due to political pressures in Colorado, Buck has decided not to seek reelection. Former President Trump even celebrated his decision, suggesting he might be looking for a TV job.
Unlike some other Republicans who left office recently, Ken Buck was part of the far-right House Freedom Caucus and played a pivotal role in the conservative movement. He’s been a strong advocate for budget cuts, sanctions against TikTok, and reducing educational materials focusing on slavery’s role in American history.
Even though he’s pushed for right-leaning policies during his time in Congress, he’s resisted what he sees as a more populist direction within the party, particularly as championed by former President Trump. He’s had public disagreements with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Trump ally, especially regarding her support for people charged in the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021.
Ken Buck’s background in constitutional law goes back to his time at the University of Denver, and he previously worked for Rep. Dick Cheney, who was involved in investigating the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan administration.
With his departure from Congress, Ken Buck’s career in the House of Representatives comes to an end. His political journey has seen significant transformations. He began his career with a focus on maintaining the constitutional balance of power during the Iran-Contra affair and experienced a more cooperative era in Washington, where both Democrats and Republicans worked together.
After a stint in Colorado law enforcement, Buck returned to national politics during the rise of the Tea Party movement. Although he initially ran for the Senate and was defeated, he later successfully won a House district in Colorado, serving five terms in Congress. Buck became known as a staunch conservative who was occasionally willing to work with Democrats. Notably, he partnered with former Rep. David Cicilline on antitrust legislation aimed at reining in tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Google. Some of these bills were signed into law by President Biden.
Buck wasn’t afraid to go against party leadership when he believed it was necessary. He made headlines for opposing Rep. Jim Jordan’s bid for Speaker of the House due to Jordan’s stance on the 2020 election results, even facing backlash from his own party, including being evicted from a district office in Colorado.
Former President Trump labeled Buck a Super RINO, but Buck’s position on not banning Trump from the 2024 election under the insurrection clause demonstrated his independent thinking.
In light of recent events, Buck expressed his frustration with the lack of reasonable disagreement in the House, acknowledging the complexities of serving in Congress.
