DENVER – U.S. Rep. Ken Buck announced Thursday he would not be seeking a second term as Colorado GOP chairman.
Buck, a Republican from Windsor who represents Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, said in a statement he feels he can “fight for our state and conservative values in other capacities," though he did not elaborate.
He has been the state party chair since 2019 – the year after Democrats swept the top statewide races in Colorado and re-took control of the Senate.
The Denver Post reported last month that Buck would not seek re-election to the post, citing a spokesperson, and Buck’s chairmanship has been the subject of some controversy since his initial election – including infighting within the party surrounding complaints about this year’s caucuses, one of which resulted in an investigation in Weld County whose results were published this week by the Colorado Sun.
“I am pleased with the work the state party has done over the last two years to create a strong base that will benefit our Party for years to come,” Buck added. “We have reinvested in data, fundraising, communications, our volunteers, and have worked to show the people of Colorado that our Party is one that knows how much Results Matter.”
But only one Republican now holds statewide office, CU Regent Heidi Ganahl, and the party suffered more setbacks than gains in 2020 for a second straight cycle.
Republican President Donald Trump lost his re-election bid to Joe Biden by 13.5% points in Colorado after he lost to Hillary Clinton here in 2016 by nearly 5 percentage points, and incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner lost to Democrat John Hickenlooper by more than 9 points.
Republicans did retain control of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, sending Lauren Boebert to Congress in the coming weeks, but failed to make up any significant ground in the state House and Senate.
Buck handily defeated Democrat Ike McCorkle in this year’s election, winning re-election 60%-37%. He will be serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Colorado GOP will vote on new leadership in the first few months of 2021. Buck thanked those who supported his chairmanship and said he would continue working with the party moving into the next cycle.
“I look forward to continuing to be a part of a unified Republican Party here in Colorado as we fight to retake our state and deliver meaningful results for the hard-working folks across the Centennial State,” he said.
