Kenneth Robert Buck is an American politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Colorado's 4th congressional district from 2015 to 2024. He also chaired the Colorado Republican Party from 2019 to 2021. Before entering Congress, Buck was the District Attorney for Weld County, Colorado. In 2010, he ran for the U.S. Senate but lost to Democrat Michael Bennet.
February 16, 1959: Ken Buck was born
Ken Buck was born in Ossining, New York on February 16, 1959.
1981: Ken Buck graduates from Princeton University
Ken Buck earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics from Princeton University in 1981 after completing his senior thesis titled "Saudi Arabia: Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place".
1985: Ken Buck earns Juris Doctor from University of Wyoming College of Law
Ken Buck received a Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1985.
1986: Ken Buck hired by Congressman Dick Cheney
Ken Buck was hired by Congressman Dick Cheney to work on the Iran-Contra investigation in 1986.
1988: Ken Buck's Son Born
Ken Buck's son, Cody, was born in 1988.
1990: Ken Buck joins United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado
Ken Buck started working at the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, where he eventually became Chief of the Criminal Division, in 1990.
1996: Ken Buck Marries Perry
In 1996, Ken Buck married his second wife, Perry.
2001: Ken Buck formally reprimanded
Ken Buck was formally reprimanded and required to take ethics classes in 2001 for a meeting he had with defense attorneys about a felony case that resulted in only a misdemeanor conviction.
2004: Ken Buck elected District Attorney for Weld County, Colorado
Ken Buck was elected as District Attorney for Weld County, Colorado in 2004.
2005: Ken Buck refuses to prosecute alleged rapist
During 2005, Ken Buck declined to prosecute a case where a man admitted to having sex with a woman while she was drunk, a case that would later draw significant controversy.
2006: Ken Buck refuses to prosecute rape case
Ken Buck refused to prosecute an alleged rape case in 2006, stating that he believed a jury would see it as "buyer's remorse."
April 28, 2009: Ken Buck Announces Candidacy for U.S. Senate
On April 28, 2009, motivated by what he perceived as the nation's "lurch to the left," Ken Buck announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. His campaign emphasized national issues and his opposition to policies like the Affordable Care Act and the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Buck also highlighted growing government debt and positioned himself as a "bottom-up" candidate in contrast to his opponent's "top-down" approach, promising to visit all 64 counties in Colorado.
October 2010: Ken Buck Denies Man-Made Climate Change
In October 2010, Ken Buck endorsed Senator James Inhofe's view that global warming is a hoax, stating that the evidence supports natural rather than man-made causes for climate change.
November 2010: Buck Loses U.S. Senate Election
In the November 2010 general election, Ken Buck lost to the appointed Senator Michael Bennet by a narrow margin, receiving 46.4% of the votes to Bennet's 48.1%.
2010: Ken Buck runs for U.S. Senate
Ken Buck ran for a seat in the U.S. senate in 2010, but lost to Democrat Michael Bennet.
2010: Ken Buck Opposes Health Care Reform
In 2010, Ken Buck opposed the health care reform laws enacted. He favored free market-based reforms and supported a state constitutional amendment for unborn fetuses' rights, later withdrawing support after discovering it would restrict certain fertility and contraception procedures.
2010: Buck Gains Momentum in Republican Primary
In 2010, Ken Buck's campaign gained traction following significant financial support from Americans for Job Security and a win at the state party's caucuses. He started receiving endorsements and media attention, contributing to a highly competitive Republican primary in Colorado.
2011: Ken Buck's Son Graduates from West Point
In 2011, Ken Buck's son, Cody, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
August 7, 2013: Buck Files to Run for U.S. Senate
On August 7, 2013, Ken Buck officially filed to run for the U.S. Senate, preceding his public announcement about his remission from lymphoma.
August 19, 2013: Buck Announces Remission and Candidacy for U.S. Senate
On August 19, 2013, Ken Buck announced that his lymphoma was in remission after treatment. He shared this news with his supporters via email and declared his intention to challenge Senator Mark Udall in the 2014 election.
March 2014: Buck Withdraws from U.S. Senate Race
In March 2014, following Cory Gardner's entry into the U.S. Senate race, Ken Buck withdrew his candidacy. Instead, he decided to contend for Gardner's seat in Colorado's 4th congressional district.
2015: Ken Buck Condemns Supreme Court Decision on Same-Sex Marriage
In 2015, Ken Buck condemned the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violate the constitution.
2015: Ken Buck begins serving in U.S. House of Representatives
Ken Buck began representing Colorado's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015.
2017: Ken Buck Publishes 'Drain the Swamp'
In 2017, Ken Buck published his book 'Drain the Swamp: How Washington Corruption is Worse Than You Think.'
2017: Buck Supports Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
In 2017, Ken Buck voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, asserting that it would provide greater fairness to American families and help retain jobs within the United States.
November 9, 2018: Ken Buck Announces Divorce
On November 9, 2018, Ken Buck announced his divorce from his second wife Perry, three days after the midterm election. Buck has two children from his first marriage.
2019: Ken Buck becomes Colorado Republican Party Chair
Ken Buck served as chair of the Colorado Republican Party from 2019.
March 4, 2020: Buck Opposes COVID-19 Emergency Aid Package
On March 4, 2020, Ken Buck was one of only two representatives to vote against an $8.3 billion emergency aid package designed to bolster the United States' response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 14, 2020: Buck Votes Against Coronavirus Relief Bill
On March 14, 2020, Ken Buck voted against the Coronavirus Relief Bill, which ultimately passed the House with a significant majority (363–40).
May 6, 2020: Ken Buck pressures Republican official to sign false affidavit
On May 6, 2020, a recording was released of Ken Buck pressuring a local Republican party official to sign a false affidavit to put activist David Stiver on the ballot for the November 2020 election.
November 2020: Election for District 10 state senate seat
The election for the District 10 state senate seat took place in November 2020.
December 2020: Buck Supports Texas v. Pennsylvania Lawsuit
In December 2020, Ken Buck was among the 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives who signed an amicus brief supporting the Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit, which challenged the 2020 presidential election results in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ultimately declined to hear the case, citing Texas's lack of standing to contest another state's election outcomes.
2020: Buck Distances Himself from Trump's Election Claims
In 2020, Ken Buck distanced himself from Donald Trump's claims about the 2020 election.
2020: Buck Responds to Trump's Indictment
In 2020, following Trump's indictment for his attempts to overturn the 2020 Georgia presidential election, Ken Buck distanced himself from allegations made by some members of the House Freedom Caucus that accused federal law enforcement of targeting Trump. He expressed trust in the legal process and its ability to unfold without interference.
2020: Buck Criticizes Election Denialism
In 2020, Ken Buck criticized fellow Republicans for perpetuating false claims about the stolen 2020 election and promoting misleading narratives about the events of January 6th.
2020: Buck Acknowledges 2020 Election Results
In 2020, Ken Buck acknowledged the results of the 2020 presidential election.
2020: Ken Buck Proposes Amendment to USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act
During the debate over the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020, Ken Buck offered an amendment to rename the bill to 'Federal Initiative to Spy on Americans (FISA) Act.' The amendment was not adopted.
2020: Ken Buck Votes Against National Defense Authorization Act
In 2020, Ken Buck voted against the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021, which aimed to prevent the president from withdrawing soldiers from Afghanistan without congressional approval.
January 6, 2021: Buck Opposes Efforts to Challenge Election Results
On January 6, 2021, Ken Buck was one of seven Republicans who opposed their colleagues' attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. They co-signed a letter acknowledging allegations of election fraud but asserting that Congress lacked the authority to alter the election outcome. Buck further distanced himself from Trump's election-related claims in a subsequent interview.
June 2021: Ken Buck Votes to Repeal Military Force Authorization Against Iraq
In June 2021, Ken Buck was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the Use of Military Force Authorization against Iraq.
September 2021: Ken Buck Votes Against National Defense Authorization Act of 2022
In September 2021, Ken Buck was among 75 House Republicans to vote against the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, which contained a provision requiring women to be drafted.
2021: Ken Buck Opposes Equality Act
In 2021, Ken Buck opposed the Equality Act, arguing it would force doctors to treat LGBT patients despite their religious objections, comparing it to forcing Jewish doctors to treat Nazi patients.
2021: Ken Buck Votes Against Condemning Myanmar Coup d'état
In 2021, during a House vote on a measure condemning the Myanmar coup d'état, Ken Buck was among 14 Republican representatives who voted against it for reasons that were unclear.
2021: Ken Buck ends term as Colorado Republican Party Chair
Ken Buck finished his term as Chair of the Colorado Republican Party in 2021.
2021: Ken Buck Opposes COVID-19 Restrictions
In 2021, Ken Buck opposed many of Colorado's COVID-19 restrictions, including the closing of businesses. He also voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, criticizing it as funding for pet projects and subsidies unrelated to COVID-19 relief.
2021: Ken Buck Introduces Open App Markets Act
In 2021, Ken Buck introduced the House version of the Open App Markets Act alongside Democrat Hank Johnson. This bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen the federal government's ability to bring antitrust cases against Big Tech companies. Buck also supports the proposed American Innovation and Choice Online Act.
2021: Ken Buck Votes Against National Defense Authorization Act
In 2020, Ken Buck voted against the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021, which aimed to prevent the president from withdrawing soldiers from Afghanistan without congressional approval.
June 19, 2022: Ken Buck Votes Against Respect for Marriage Act
On June 19, 2022, Ken Buck voted against The Respect for Marriage Act, a bill intended to protect the right to same-sex marriage at a federal level.
2022: Ken Buck Votes Against National Defense Authorization Act
In 2022, Ken Buck was among 19 House Republicans to vote against the final passage of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.
2022: Ken Buck Speaks on Antitrust Law
In 2022, Ken Buck gave a speech on antitrust law and Big Tech at the National Conservatism Conference.
2022: Ken Buck Votes for Antitrust Package
In 2022, Ken Buck was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022. This antitrust package aimed to crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.
April 2023: Buck Opposes Limit, Save, Grow Act
In April 2023, Ken Buck was among the four Republican representatives who voted against the proposed Limit, Save, Grow Act, which sought to raise the debt ceiling while implementing cuts to non-mandatory spending. Buck explained his opposition in a Washington Times op-ed, expressing concern that the proposed spending reductions were insufficient to justify a Republican majority in the House.
September 2023: Buck Questions Biden Impeachment Inquiry
In September 2023, Ken Buck expressed his disagreement with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's decision to initiate an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, which aimed to investigate allegations of corruption related to Hunter Biden's business dealings. Buck argued that the inquiry lacked sufficient evidence and relied on "fictitious" facts. Despite his reservations, he ultimately voted to formalize the inquiry.
October 3, 2023: Buck Votes to Remove McCarthy as Speaker
On October 3, 2023, Ken Buck was one of eight Republicans who voted to remove Kevin McCarthy from his position as Speaker of the House. Buck's decision was primarily driven by his disapproval of McCarthy's handling of spending negotiations, which he believed contradicted prior promises.
October 2023: Buck Opposes Jim Jordan in Speaker Vote
In the October 2023 Speaker vote, Ken Buck was among the 20 Republicans who supported a candidate other than Jim Jordan in the initial ballot. Buck expressed concerns regarding Jordan's stance on the January 6th Capitol attack and his denial of the 2020 presidential election results.
October 2023: Ken Buck Questions Legitimacy of Election
Prior to the first nomination election for the October 2023 Speaker of the House election, Ken Buck asked the Republican candidates if the 2020 election was legitimate. Despite their evasive responses, Buck voted 'present' in the nomination election and later voted for Mike Johnson, an election denier. Buck justified his support by stating that Johnson's actions were mistakes but did not disqualify him from the speakership. He emphasized the need to elect a speaker and pass legislation.
November 1, 2023: Buck Announces Retirement from Congress
On November 1, 2023, Ken Buck announced his decision to not seek a sixth term in the House of Representatives in the November 2024 election. He dedicated a significant portion of his announcement video to criticizing fellow Republicans for their focus on past grievances and the spread of misinformation about the 2020 election. He argued for a commitment to truth as a path forward for the nation.
November 2023: Ken Buck announces decision not to seek reelection
Ken Buck announced in November 2023 that he would not be seeking a sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2023: Ken Buck Publishes 'Crushed: Big Tech's War on Free Speech'
In 2023, Ken Buck published his book 'Crushed: Big Tech's War on Free Speech.'
2023: Ken Buck Co-founds Congressional Antitrust Caucus
In 2023, Ken Buck co-founded the Congressional Antitrust Caucus alongside Representative David Cicilline. This caucus focuses on antitrust issues.
2023: Ken Buck Cosponsors Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
In 2023, Ken Buck cosponsored the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a nationwide ban preventing transgender and intersex girls and women from participating in girls' and women's sports.
2023: Ken Buck Votes Against Fiscal Responsibility Act
In 2023, Ken Buck was among the 71 Republicans who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.
2023: Buck Votes Against Fiscal Responsibility Act
In 2023, Ken Buck was among the 71 Republicans who opposed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
February 2024: Buck Opposes Impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas
In February 2024, Ken Buck was one of only three Republicans who opposed the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Buck voted against both motions, maintaining that the allegations against Mayorkas did not warrant impeachment, similar to his stance on the Biden impeachment inquiry.
March 12, 2024: Ken Buck announces resignation from Congress
Ken Buck announced his resignation from Congress on March 12, 2024, citing his party's "insidious narratives" that he believed eroded public trust.
March 22, 2024: Ken Buck's resignation from Congress takes effect
Ken Buck's resignation from Congress became effective on March 22, 2024.
November 2024: Buck to Retire from Congress
Ken Buck will retire from Congress after the November 2024 election.
2024: Ken Buck resigns from Congress
Ken Buck resigned from his position in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024.
January 2025: Buck to Leave Congress Before Term End
Ken Buck announced in March 2024, his plan to leave Congress before his term expired in January 2025. Citing dissatisfaction with the political climate, he expressed a desire to pursue other endeavors. Shortly before his departure, the Freedom Caucus symbolically expelled Buck due to differences on key issues, including his rejection of election denialism and his opposition to the impeachment votes.