Ken Buck set to leave Congress early; Lauren Boebert not running in special election

Editor's note: This story was updated on March 13 to include additional comments from Rep. Lauren Boebert.

Rep. Ken Buck can’t get out of Congress fast enough.

Buck first announced he wasn’t seeking re-election representing Colorado’s 4^th Congressional District in November 2023. The Windsor Republican said Tuesday that he will leave the House of Representatives early, with nearly a year left in his term. His last day will be Friday, March 22.

A crowded field of candidates has already emerged in the Democratic and Republican primaries — including Rep. Lauren Boebert, who announced her move from Colorado's 3rd Congressional District to Buck’s more conservative district in late December 2023.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a press release Tuesday afternoon that he plans to call a special election to select a replacement for the rest of Buck’s term on June 25, the same day as the general primary elections.

Here’s what we know about who may serve the rest of Buck’s term and what the special election will look like.

How will candidates get on the special election ballot?

Colorado law specifies that the governor should call a special election between 85 and 100 days after a vacancy in Congress. The statutory window for the election and the timing of Buck’s planned final day overlap with the state primary election already scheduled for Tuesday, June 25.

Political parties pick the candidates in special elections for congressional vacancies, according to the law.

Unaffiliated candidates can also try to run in the special election by collecting petition signatures.

How the Colorado GOP will decide on the nominee

Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams told the Chieftain in a phone call Tuesday afternoon that the CO-4 vacancy committee will be meeting in the next few weeks to nominate a Republican candidate in the special election.

The committee is made up of people in county party leadership and elected officials who live within the district boundaries, Williams said.

A dozen candidates, including Boebert, have filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for a two-year term representing CO-4 starting in early 2025.

Williams said that he hopes voters aren’t confused by the expected timing of the special election coinciding with the pre-scheduled primary, but “I hope voters are smart enough to figure it out.”

Is Lauren Boebert running in the special election?

While Boebert has moved to Windsor on the Eastern Plains, she is still representing the Western Slope and parts of southern Colorado until her term expires in early 2025. Representatives are not required to live in the districts they represent.

Boebert’s campaign manager, Drew Sexton, said in a text to the Chieftain Tuesday afternoon that the decision has not yet been made about whether she'll run in the special election.

But the congresswoman announced Wednesday morning in a press release that she would not leave CO-3 to participate in the special election, partially to keep Republicans' extremely narrow majority in the House.

"I am the only Trump-endorsed, America First candidate in this race and will win the 4th District’s primary election on June 25th and general election on November 5th," Boebert said.

Boebert also critiqued the timing of the special election and of Buck's departure, saying it was a gift to the "Uniparty."

"The establishment concocted a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election I’m winning by 25 points," Boebert said in the release, citing a recent poll from Kaplan Strategies. "Forcing an unnecessary special election on the same day as the primary election will confuse voters, result in a lame duck Congressman on day one, and leave the 4th District with no representation for more than three months. The 4th District deserves better."

One Democratic candidate is trying to manifest ballot placement

One of the Democratic candidates running in the CO-4 primary, Ike McCorkle, said in a press release Tuesday afternoon that he and Boebert will “prepare” for the special election following Buck’s departure.

But it’s not that simple.

Not only is Boebert not participating in the special election, but Colorado Democrats will also need to select a candidate, as late as April 1, according to the Colorado Democratic Party.

Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics at the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Is Lauren Boebert running in the special election for Ken Buck's seat?