(The Center Square) – A special election to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Ken Buck will align with Colorado’s June 25 primary election, Gov. Jared Polis said.
Buck announced Tuesday he would step down at the end of next week, rather than wait until the end of his term to retire.
“To ensure that Colorado has the representation we deserve in Congress, and to minimize taxpayer cost, I plan to take swift action to set the date of the special election to fill the vacancy created by Ken Buck’s resignation to align with Colorado’s primary on June 25th,” Polis said in a statement.
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, the Republican who currently represents the 3rd Congressional District but is running for Buck’s seat in the 4th District, criticized Buck’s announcement.
“Forcing an unnecessary Special Election on the same day as the Primary Election will confuse voters, result in a lameduck Congressman on day one, and leave the 4th District with no representation for more than three months,” she said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Boebert also said she’s not running in the special election.
Buck’s decision to step down early means Republicans will have a 218 to 213-seat majority over Democrats, with three other vacant seats.
Vacancy committees for Republicans and Democrats will select their respective candidates to appear in the special election.
