Two More GOP Reps. Poised to Exit After Duffy

Twenty-four hours after Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., stunned fellow Republicans with his announcement he was resigning from office in September, Newsmax learned two more Republican representatives are poised to step down in 2020.

Should Reps. Paul Cook, R-Calif., and Ken Buck, R-Colo., make their exits official, they will bring the number of House Republicans resigning, retiring, or seeking another office to 14.

In contrast, only three Democratic House Members are so far calling it quits in 2020.

Cook, 76, is soon expected to announce his candidacy for a vacant seat on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. Speculation that Cook, decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam and former state legislator, would turn to county politics began last week when Supervisor Robert Lovingood announced he would not seek re-election in 2020.

Although Cook's office will not say what he will do, Republicans in his historically Republican 8th District are already maneuvering to succeed him. Golden State GOP sources predict there will be a classic ideological shootout between two state assemblymen: moderate Chad Mayes, 42, of Yucca Valley, and conservative Jay Obernolte, 49, of Big Bear Lake.

Stalwart conservative Buck, 60, has held Colorado's strongly Republican 4th District since 2014. In recent weeks, discussion of his not running again or even resigning from office persist. Last week, Buck (who also is state Republican chairman) raised eyebrows by failing to attend a major party function at which he was billed as a speaker along with Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo.

Centennial State sources told Newsmax that Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler, who lost a tight race for state attorney general last year, and State House GOP Leader Patrick Neville, son of a popular former state senator, are considered certain candidates should Buck bow out. Both are conservative in the mold of Buck.

"The only one who can say what Ken will do at this point is Ken himself," one veteran GOP operative in Colorado told Newsmax.

We contacted the congressman's office to ask his plans for 2020, but received no answer.

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.