There’s a quiet tremor running through the Republican Party — the kind that doesn’t show up in press releases but is unmistakable to anyone watching closely.
In the aftermath of the bruising Speaker fight that exposed deep fractures within the GOP, two veteran House Republicans have abruptly announced they’re stepping aside. And while both cite personal or philosophical reasons,
one of them is openly pointing to Donald Trump’s grip on the party as a driving force behind his decision. Their departures have set off murmurs on Capitol Hill: are these isolated retirements, or the first visible signs of a deeper internal break that party leaders would rather keep out of the spotlight?
Reps. Ken Buck of Colorado and Kay Granger of Texas revealed they will not run for reelection in 2024. Buck was blunt in an MSNBC interview: Trump’s influence — particularly the continued insistence that the 2020 election was stolen — helped push him toward the exit.
“I’ve decided not to run again,” Buck told Andrea Mitchell, adding that he’s exhausted by the party’s refusal to move past false narratives about the election, the January 6 attack, and so-called political prisoners.
His announcement came shortly after Granger, age 80, said she plans to retire at the end of this term. Buck hinted she may not be the last.
“I’m joining Kay — and probably some others soon,” he said, noting his frustration with Congress’ failure to confront real policy challenges while allowing election denialism to metastasize within the GOP.
Despite his criticism, Buck clarified that he’s not leaving the party altogether and stressed that 2024 will be a “critical year” for both the White House and the House majority.
Granger, the powerful chair of the House Appropriations Committee, framed her decision differently. For her, it’s about timing and renewal.
“As I step aside, I’m encouraged by the next generation of leaders,” she said, adding that she’ll continue working with the new Speaker to advance conservative goals.
Granger has represented the Fort Worth region since 1997 and is one of the longest-serving Republicans in the House. Buck’s district covers much of eastern Colorado. Both hail from reliably red seats, according to the Cook Political Report.
Notably, both lawmakers were among the Republicans who voted to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 victory — placing them outside the faction of 147 House GOP members who objected to the results. The NBC News reporting also reminds readers that Democrats challenged Trump’s legitimacy after 2016 as well, fueled by theories of Russian interference that later came under scrutiny during special counsel John Durham’s probe.
Buck’s retirement follows his vote to oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker and his opposition to Jim Jordan’s bid for the gavel. Granger, meanwhile, played a key role in derailing Jordan’s candidacy; she was the only committee chair to consistently oppose him and was central to the bloc that blocked his ascent.
All of this unfolds as Trump dominates the 2024 primary field, even as his legal battles consume increasing amounts of his time and attention.
Conclusion
The near-simultaneous retirement announcements from Buck and Granger highlight a deeper struggle inside the Republican Party — one centered on Trump’s influence, the unresolved conflicts over the 2020 election, and the power struggles exposed during the recent Speaker debacle.
Although both lawmakers present their decisions as personal or strategic, their parting words — especially Buck’s — reveal a GOP wrestling with truth, identity, and direction. As more House Republicans weigh their futures and Trump’s legal fights intensify, the party faces a crossroads that could shape its direction long after the 2024 election.