House Speaker Mike Johnson had no idea Representative Ken Buck is quitting, as the GOP is in complete shambles.

House Speaker Mike Johnson had no idea Representative Ken Buck is quitting, as the GOP is in complete shambles.

Representative Ken Buck took to social media to announce his near-immediate leave from Congress, resigning so fast that even his party leaders were caught off guard by the decision.

“Today, I am announcing that I will depart Congress at the end of next week,” Buck said in a statement on Tuesday. “I look forward to staying involved in our political process, as well as spending more time in Colorado with my family.”

The less-than-two-weeks notice took practically everybody by surprise, including (or maybe especially) House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“I was surprised by Ken’s announcement,” Johnson told a crush of reporters inside the Capitol building. “I look forward to talking to him about that.”

“I didn’t know,” he added.

  • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
    16·
    7 months ago

    I mean, this is darkly foreshadowing to me. I don’t understand how he could have more subversive influence outside of Congress than in, but I’m sure something is fucky.

    • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
      12·
      7 months ago

      My guess is that he sees a massive loss for the GOP coming up and figured it was smarted to leave now then get crushed in the landslide.

      Of course, it could be something completely outside politics, but I know how I’d bet.

      • 1stTime4MeInMCU@mander.xyzEnglish
        5·
        7 months ago

        He already announced a while back he wasn’t running for re-election, but who knows maybe he just didn’t see the point to keep going.

        • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
          1·
          7 months ago

          A quick search tells me that a Congressional seat can remain vacant for up to six months because there has to be an election. The Governor of a State appoints a new Senator if the current one resigns. It’s nine months until November. I don’t know what his plan was, but he’s created quite the pickle for the rest of the local power structure.

      • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        7 months ago

        In general totally agree. That particular quote is odd however. Probably there to pique interest with folks just as it did me.

        Edit I’m a fucking idiot guy.i replied to wrote “(paraphrasing)”