Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) announced on Tuesday that he will retire from Congress next week, further narrowing the House GOP’s majority.
Buck, who has gained a reputation for diverging from his party on different matters and calling out Republicans on election denialism, revealed last year that he would leave the House at the end of his current term, but decided to accelerate that schedule on Tuesday.
The statement from Buck, aged 65, marks the end of his over nine-year period in Congress.
During the last year, he made several contentious votes that clashed with fellow House GOP members, such as removing former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and opposing the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
His upcoming exit will reduce the House GOP’s majority by one, resulting in 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats in the House.
Buck’s departure will not alter the overall margin though: Republicans will still need to ensure that no more than two of their members vote against party lines, provided all lawmakers are present.
However, his resignation will still reduce the cushion GOP lawmakers will have on certain measures, making it harder to pass certain legislation in the upcoming months.
According to Colorado law, a special election must be held within 85 to 100 days after Buck leaves the seat.
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