How Rep. Ken Buck’s resignation impacts Colorado’s District 4 elections

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Congressman Ken Buck officially resigned from office Friday, cutting his term short.

The representative claims the move stems solely from his growing frustration with congressional inaction; however, the move is negatively impacting one of his colleagues, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. This week on “Colorado Point of View,” Republican and Democratic analysts agree that the move hurt Boebert’s chance to claim Buck’s seat.

Buck’s departure also triggered a special election to determine who will fill the seat for the remainder of the year. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis confirmed he intends to hold that election on June 25, the same day as the Republican primary for the congressional district.

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“Colorado Point of View” political analysts agree that the decision by Buck will negatively impact Boebert’s efforts to win the primary in June since she has said she will not be running in the Special Election.

“It hurts Boebert’s chances,” said Republican analyst Michael Fields. “I don’t think it hurts ‘em enough that she’ll lose.”

Fields said it gives candidates running in the Republican primary and the special election an advantage because they’re on the ballot twice.

“I think that banking, though, on voter confusion, isn’t a good way to think that you’re going to predict what’s going to happen. And I do think that Lauren’s leading this race,” Fields said. “I think she has a lot of money, name ID. I still think she’s likely to win, but there’s no doubt that having somebody else running in that vacancy race is going to hurt her.”

Democratic analyst Andy Boian agreed that the move hurts Boebert’s election efforts but said, “She has no chance of winning this race.”

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“She’s done nothing in Congress, and I think that will come back to bite her. Also, she’s moved obviously across the state for pure convenience,” said Boian. “So I think Jerry Sonnenberg has a chance of winning the special election. I think that only puts him in an advantage in the general.”

Both analysts agree that voters in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District will have to pay close attention to who they’re voting for in the elections, in order for their preferred candidate to win the primary and special elections.

Watch the full conversation on “Colorado Point of View” on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on FOX31 and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on Colorado’s Very Own Channel 2.

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