The House Freedom Caucus voted Tuesday night to kick Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) out of Congress ahead of his planned resignation on Friday.
As reported by the Hill, Buck has not attended the conservative caucus’ meetings despite being a member for years. The group also took issue with his early departure, which will affect the GOP majority in the House and “leave the conference hanging with a historically narrow margin.”
Buck announced last week that he would resign from Congress in a deviation from his initial plan to complete his term but not seek reelection.
In a post to X, he wrote, “It has been an honor to serve the people of Colorado’s 4th District in Congress for the past 9 years. I want to thank them for their support and encouragement throughout the years. Today, I am announcing that I will depart Congress at the end of next week. I look forward to staying involved in our political process, as well as spending more time in Colorado with my family.”
Statement from Congressman Ken Buck on his departure from Congress. pic.twitter.com/orjSzenZnv
— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) March 12, 2024
Before he announced that he would be leaving Congress, Buck has lost allies within the Republican Party as he broke from the party on significant issues, such as voting against the impeachment of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and voting against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH when he was nominated for House Speaker last year before Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was eventually voted into the position.
Buck has also refused to back former President Donald Trump’s presidential bid, even as he has become the party’s presumptive nominee.
In announcing his expedited retirement, Buck slammed the GOP, telling CNN that “this place just keeps going downhill and I don’t need to spend my time here.”
“It is the worst year of the nine years and three months that I’ve been in Congress. And having talked to former members, it’s the worst year in 40, 50 years to be in Congress. But I’m leaving because I think there’s a job to do out there that I want to go do,” he explained.
