Buck was elected to Congress in 2014 and served five terms. He was a member of the House Freedom Caucus and gained prominence as a fiscal conservative and a leading advocate for antitrust enforcement within the Republican Party. He was also known for his Ken Buck, often breaking with party lines on key issues. Notably, he was one of eight Republicans who voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy over concerns about his handling of spending issues AP News.
In November 2023, Buck announced he would not seek reelection in 2024, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s focus on false narratives about the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol attack. He described these issues as breeding “widespread cynicism” and eroding Americans’ confidence in the rule of law AP News. In March 2024, he resigned from Congress, citing a “breakdown of civility” and dysfunction within the chamber Reuter.
Following his resignation, Buck expressed a desire to engage differently in the political process and spend more time in Colorado. He described Congress as a “dysfunctional place” and expressed his happiness about moving on Axios.
Buck’s departure marked a significant moment in Colorado’s political landscape, as his seat became vacant and a special election was scheduled to fill the vacancy. His resignation also contributed to a reduction in the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
