Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan announces retirement after 10 terms in Congress
Source: Roll Call
Posted January 27, 2026 at 12:57pm
Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan, a longtime member of the Ways and Means Committee, announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection this year after nearly two decades in Congress.
Buchanan, 74, joins a growing list of Republicans departing the House, including fellow Floridians Neal Dunn and Byron Donalds, who is running for governor.
“I came to Congress to solve problems, to fight for working families and to help ensure this country remains a place where opportunity is available to everyone willing to work for it,” Buchanan said in a statement. “After 20 years of service, I believe it’s the right time to pass the torch and begin a new chapter in my life.”
Buchanan’s decision will leave open a safe Republican seat in southwest Florida, just north of Sarasota. President Donald Trump carried the 16th District by about 15 points in 2024, according to calculations by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, while Buchanan won a 10th term by 19 points. The makeup of the district could change this year, with Florida poised to redraw its congressional map as soon as this spring in an effort to help Republicans flip more seats.
Read more: https://rollcall.com/2026/01/27/vern-buchanan-retire-house-florida-republicans/
Per NPR's Congressional retirement tracker (as of Jan. 27, 2026) - https://www.npr.org/2025/09/15/nx-s1-5534254/house-senate-retirement-tracker-2026
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