Is Congressman Ken Buck CNN's Newest Star?

Will he or won’t he?

The speculation concerning the future of Congressman Ken Buck, a fiscal conservative and five-term representative continues. Will he run for re-election when his term is up or possible resign his elected seat to become an on-air commentator for CNN.

The congressman recently penned a scathing op-ed for The Washington Post, exposing the inaccuracies of the investigation and ruffling feathers among fellow Republicans. Rumors have been circulating that Buck may have his sights set on a job at CNN, and while he has confirmed that he is exploring his options, he remains committed to his re-election.

MSNBC anchor Katy Tur spoke to Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) on September 20th.

But not everyone is convinced.

State Rep. Richard Holtorf has announced his plans to challenge Buck in the primary election. Holtorf, a farmer and rancher, believes Buck's recent defense of the treatment of Jan. 6th defendants and his opposition to House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden as two examples of a disconnect with the district.

Holtorf said he has created an exploratory committee and plans to make a decision by early December.

“Because of the positions he takes, there are a lot of people in the district that are frustrated and upset with him and they’ve come to me to ask if I can primary him so they can get that kind of representation in Congress,” Holtorf told CPR News.

Buck, a former Weld County district attorney, has been a member of Congress since 2015. He has also served as the state Republican party chair and is a proud member of the House Freedom Caucus. His district, which covers parts of rural Colorado and the Eastern Plains, is the state's most conservative with a 27-point advantage for Republicans.

In 2022, Buck faced an unexpected challenge at the Republican caucus, where newcomer Bob Lewis gained enough support to secure top billing on the primary ballot. Many voters expressed their disappointment with Buck's refusal to join the objections to the 2020 election certification. And now, businessman Justin Schreiber has joined the race as well, hoping to shake things up in Congress.