GOP Nominee To Replace Ken Buck Revealed

(USNewsBreak.com) – Former Representative Ken Buck (R-CO) stepped down on March 22, much sooner than expected. His departure caused a bit of a stir because of the dwindling Republican majority in the House. It also sparked a round of votes in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District to choose a new GOP nominee.

The state is holding a special election to fill Buck’s seat on June 25. To choose its candidate, the 4th Congressional District vacancy committee held votes to secure a nominee. After six rounds of voting on Thursday, March 28, Greg Lopez emerged victorious, gaining 51 votes to Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg’s 46. There were originally nine candidates vying for the nomination.

Lopez is well-known in the political sphere. He served as Parker Mayor and unsuccessfully ran for governor in both 2018 and 2022.

Former mayor picked as GOP nominee to replace Ken Buck https://t.co/H0Tf9fKV1h

— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) March 29, 2024

Colorado’s Democratic Party, which held its nomination process on Monday, immediately began attacking Lopez, shining a spotlight on his past transgressions. They cited his “troubling history with law enforcement,” according to The Denver Post, which included domestic violence and using his influence to wield power over the state’s Small Business Administration in order to help a friend secure a guaranteed loan. Lopez pleaded guilty to harassment in the domestic violence incident, which dates back to 1993, and then settled the case involving the SBA for $15,000.

Lopez, however, said he’s not looking to make this seat a permanent role and will not run for re-election in November. Rather, he’s simply running to fill in until then.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), who is seeking Buck’s seat in the November election, did not enter as she wanted to participate in the primary, which is being held the same day as the special election. She recently collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot.

When Buck originally announced that he was not running for re-election, Boebert switched tracks from running in Colorado’s 3rd District, where she currently serves and narrowly won by hundreds of votes, to Buck’s, which is staunchly conservative, giving her more of an opportunity to win.