Running … away
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier in Washington comes this: A Colorado Republican congressman, Ken Buck, announced his resignation from Congress last week, effective March 25.
Representative Buck is a conservative hardliner and votes against the Biden agenda at just about every opportunity. However, the constitutional law professor has recently attracted attention over his opposition to his party’s impeachment efforts of President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The congressman has said he simply believes no constitutional grounds or evidence exists to do so yet.
He’s been critical of his party for relying on testimony of “star” witnesses.
One is currently a fugitive from the law and another has admitted that he lied to the FBI about involvement of the president and his son with Ukrainian company Burisma, which he said was fabricated by Russian intelligence operatives.
He also credits his growing frustration over the growing dysfunction in Congress as a reason to resign before the end of his term. Whatever his reasons, it all boils down to a chipping away his party’s House majority that, while razor thin, still gives them control of the agenda in one half of one branch of government.
Buck’s resignation, along with the expulsion of Rep. George Santos on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote last year, brings the Republican majority to 218-213.
It could get worse for Republicans. Representative Buck believes more resignations could follow, and could cost his party its majority before the election.
While he hinted but didn’t speculate on who may resign, others have. Possibilities include: Thomas Massie of Kentucky backed Ron DeSantis for president and accused Trump on Fox News of “bullying tactics.”
Chip Roy of Texas has criticized Trump on CNN because he “failed to actually fully secure the border.” (Roy says the speculation is unfounded and says he has no plans to resign.)
Larry Bucshon of Indiana has criticized Trump for his comments about “poisoning the blood” of the country during a campaign rally and has called the former president out for the Capitol riots in 2021, claiming Trump incited them.
David Valadao of California was one of the few Republicans to vote to impeach Trump in 2021, and is not endorsing him in 2024.
In the meantime, Indiana Republican Greg Pence and Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher have both announced they will retire at the end of their terms, leading some to believe they may resign before the end of their terms like Ken Buck.
Only time will tell whether any of this will occur, and may have little impact on Trump’s ability to regain the Oval Office. However, it does make the possibility of Republicans retaining a House majority after the Novermber election more difficult in what was already seen as a difficult path.