Ken Buck announces he is leaving Congress early, saying House has become 'dysfunctional'

Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., is departing Congress early, narrowing the GOP's majority and complicating legislative efforts.

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[{"selector":"#anim-485113a7-f763-4392-9d93-5e479037d382","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-234f119f-94dd-45c5-bda2-f56fe191fbb7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Buck has been a dissenting voice within the GOP, notably voting to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and criticizing the party's alignment with Trump.

[{"selector":"#anim-f1706e13-560e-487a-bfe6-3c7cbad23be2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ff76678-213a-4784-a784-b3538e778e51","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed surprise at Buck's resignation, indicating lack of prior knowledge.

[{"selector":"#anim-5531fe6f-7713-49fd-b0c8-66384e108426","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee515aca-327b-4fa2-b920-75e7b63b1ff6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.84931%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Buck explained his decision to leave without advance notice, fearing leaks and wanting to control the announcement.

[{"selector":"#anim-e39d31ec-1082-4679-aab1-0bb125f76000","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b3a8016-6e3f-4b60-a0d2-73b560fc952e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.30137%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Despite Buck's departure, House Republican majority remains slim, requiring careful strategy in legislative efforts.

[{"selector":"#anim-e7e03f23-9d49-495a-b3ef-dece873674da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a7fae21-4b1b-4b0d-b1b5-5008a710ae19","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] With the GOP majority now at 218 seats, leadership faces increased pressure to maintain party unity in votes.