AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Ex-Rep. Ken Buck’s (R-CO) retirement from Congress this month appeared to be a deliberate attempt to stop Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) from taking his seat – a plan that appeared to unravel on Thursday.
Buck left Congress last week, timing his resignation in a way that forced Boebert to choose between running in a special election to replace him or continuing her effort to win the primary in his GOP-leaning district. Boebert announced earlier in the year that she would forgo running again in her district, Colorado 3, and switch to Colorado 4 for a “fresh start” following months of scandals and negative headlines. Buck’s scheme, had it worked out, could have resulted in another Republican winning the special election and then running as an incumbent in the seat, providing a significant advantage over Boebert.
However, a GOP panel on Thursday night surprised Colorado pundits by choosing former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez to run as the GOP candidate in the special election. Lopez was one of nine contenders vying for the slot, but one of only two who had vowed not to run for reelection in November – effectively acting as a placeholder for Boebert.
Local Colorado anchor Kyle Clark explained the impact of the panel’s decision, “Fmr Rep Ken Buck’s resignation bet backfired. A GOP committee didn’t pick the establishment successor to fill his seat until January, opting for a Rep Lauren Boebert-backed placeholder who isn’t challenging her for the GOP nomination in June.”
Fmr Rep Ken Buck's resignation bet backfired. A GOP committee didn't pick the establishment successor to fill his seat until January, opting for a Rep Lauren Boebert-backed placeholder who isn't challenging her for the GOP nomination in June. #CO4 #copolitics
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) March 29, 2024
Boebert, who narrowly won reelection in 2022, has become a lightning rod of controversy, often grabbing national headlines with her antics. The pro-Trump congresswoman sent a letter to the panel choosing the special election candidate urging them to choose a placeholder candidate so as not to “influence the regular primary election in a way that would taint the entire process and give this candidate an unfair leg up.”
Buck had publicly denied trying to kneecap Boebert in her effort to stay in Congress, while Boebert had accused him and “the establishment of concocting a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election” against her.
