Ken Buck’s sudden resignation from Congress has Republicans and Democrats scrambling to replace him in a special election already set for June 25, the same days as party primaries across the state.
Here’s how it will go down.
First, for those who haven’t yet heard, Buck announced today he’s not going to finish his term as he originally said, and will instead resign his 4th Congressional District seat on March 22.
Buck was apparently already in makeup when his announcement broke and told CNN a hot minute later that he had a job offer, but didn’t offer details.
But that’s not important. At least not to the voters of the 4th district.
Here’s how the two elections to replace Buck will be juggled by the respective parties.
First is the election to fill Buck’s term through December.
Republicans and Democrats who are the elected party officials of their respective 4th Congressional District central committee will chose their nominees, who will then face off on a General Election ballot that all voters will decide in the June 25 primary.
Also in that primary packet, voters will choose their preferred party nominee on another ballot to serve the next two-year term of Congress that begins in January.
Republicans already running in the primary to replace Buck, who first announced last year he planned to retire after this term, include Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg, former radio host Deborah Flora, state Reps. Richard Holtorf and Mike Lynch, former state Sen. Ted Harvey, and current congresswoman for the 3rd Congressional District representing the Western Slope, Lauren Boebert.
Democrats and the media, same thing, are already frothing at the mouth that this was all intended to hurt Boebert, because they can’t stand her.
There’s some speculation she can’t even be considered by the party’s committee unless she resigns, but we’re not so sure. Members of the House run for the Senate all the time without having to give up their seat first. We’ll have to wait and see on that.
But Buck’s resignation could certainly give the home advantage to candidates who already lived in the district and personally know the elected members of their political party.
As for the Democrats, meh, it’s a GOP district, they don’t stand a chance.
So, farewell Ken Buck, and thanks for all the conservative votes you cast, back when you were a conservative.
Good luck in your future endeavors …
In the meantime, Buck’s departure threatens to whittle the GOP’s House majority down even further. The count currently stands at 219 Republicans to 213 Democrats, with three vacant seats. California holds a vacancy election for former Rep. Kevin McCarthy on March 19. If no candidate secures a majority of the votes in that contest it will go to a runoff in late May.
