AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) expressed strong displeasure on Wednesday about Rep. Ken Buck’s (R-CO) resigning next week, saying it will make it difficult for her to remain in Congress. She criticized his decision as “selfish.”
Buck, a staunch conservative who has been a problem for MAGA House Republicans, surprised the political world on Tuesday by announcing his retirement. He had previously declared in November that he would not seek reelection, which led Boebert to change from CO-3 to Buck’s CO-4 district.
Boebert has been plagued by scandal after scandal and almost lost her reelection bid last time to the same Democrat who is challenging her again this year. If she wins the June primary and moves to CO-4, it would provide her with a much safer position and a chance for a “fresh start.” give her a “fresh start.”
“The “uni-party” is doing everything possible to hinder my candidacy and manipulate the election in Colorado,” Boebert vented online, adding:
And, you know, this is breaking news as of yesterday. Ken Buck’s announcement yesterday was a gift to the “uni-party.” The establishment concocted a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election. An election that I’m winning by 25 points, forcing an unnecessary special election, when? The same day as the primary election in Colorado.
And this will confuse voters, and it will result in a lame-duck congressman on day one and leave the fourth district with no representation for more than three months. This is absolutely unacceptable. I believe that this is selfish.
Lauren Boebert claims that the “uni-party” got Ken Buck to resign so they could “rig” the election against her. pic.twitter.com/YkvJ4j15rz
— Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) March 13, 2024
Others quickly pointed out that the special election resulting from Buck’s retirement could force Boebert out of Congress. Far-right podcaster Steve Bannon said, “It’s sort of to undermine Lauren Boebert.”
House insider Aaron Fritschner released a long thread on the subject, stating, “Ken Buck represents CO-4; Lauren Boebert, who represents CO-3, is running to replace him. If Boebert triumphs in the special election to take Buck’s place, she will have to step down from CO-3, leading to a new vacancy. But if she does not compete in the special election, she risks losing her chance to stay in Congress.”
Here are some additional reactions:
If Buck wanted to screw over Boebert, this is probably the one thing he could do—and it’ll be devastatingly effective, because she loses either way.
If she gets the nomination and wins the special, she’ll either have to resign, causing another special, or delay taking office. https://t.co/Bmvv4kxSLu
— Quinn Yeargain (@yeargain.bsky.social) (@yeargain) March 12, 2024
I cannot overstate how funny it is that Buck appeared to engineer his resignation in a way that deliberately makes it next to impossible for Lauren Boebert to return to Congress next year. This is the unique combination of genius and pettiness in American politics that i live for https://t.co/7APmX0tZe4
— August J. Pollak (@AugustJPollak) March 12, 2024
ruining both Mike Johnson’s and Lauren Boebert’s days, with the added bonus of not having to work with these lunatics anymore, is a move I can only respect https://t.co/ruxYwfYy3q
— Alice Visocchi (@AliceinDCland) March 13, 2024
Ken Buck playing chess https://t.co/AKRoH047ha
— Mike Madrid (@madrid_mike) March 12, 2024
BUT running for the seat will require Boebert to miss a lot of votes as she campaigns in the district, the primary is competitive. If she wins, she has to resign her current seat, creating a new vacancy. This is a big big headache for House GOP leadership and their small majority
— Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) March 12, 2024
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