Rep. Vern Buchanan Announces Retirement After 20 Years

Rep. Vern Buchanan announced he will not seek re-election, saying it was "the honor of my lifetime" and that he will pass the torch after 20 years representing Florida's 16th Congressional District, his office said.

The move makes Buchanan the 28th House Republican to announce retirement and comes amid 47 total House departures, including 21 Democrats, according to a congressional departures analysis.

Buchanan has faced investigations by the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee into alleged financial wrongdoing, according to reports.

He serves as vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee and as chair of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, roles that shaped tax and health policy, his office said.

His retirement opens a likely Republican primary in Florida's 16th District and could influence whether Republicans retain their razor-thin House majority in the 2026 general election, analysts say.