Republican Rep. Ken Buck announced Tuesday that he's leaving Congress at the end of next week, further narrowing the GOP's slender House majority. Buck, a member of the hardline conservative House Freedom Caucus, said in November that he wouldn't seek re-election in Colorado's 4th District but the Tuesday announcement surprised colleagues including House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Washington Post reports. In recent months, Buck bucked his party on issues including efforts to impeach President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
- Narrowed majority. After Buck's departure next week, there will be 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats in the House, with four vacancies, meaning that Johnson can only afford to lose two GOP votes in party-line votes if all members are present, the Hill reports.