Longtime Congressman Vern Buchanan announced on Tuesday that he is retiring. The Florida Republican said he will not seek re-election once his current term ends, wrapping up two decades in Washington.
Buchanan represents Florida’s 16th District, which covers parts of Sarasota and Manatee counties. He is currently the longest-serving Republican from Southwest Florida. In a statement released Tuesday morning, Buchanan said he felt it was the right moment to step away.
“Serving the people of Southwest Florida has been the honor of my lifetime,” Buchanan said. “After 20 years of service, I believe it’s the right time to pass the torch and begin a new chapter in my life.”
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During his time in office, Buchanan built a reputation for getting things done regardless of who was in the White House. His office notes that 51 of his initiatives were signed into law by four different presidents: George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. One of his most visible local achievements was securing nearly $28 million to build the Sarasota National Cemetery for veterans.
On the national stage, Buchanan was a major player in economic policy. He served as Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the powerful group that handles tax and trade laws. He helped craft the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a massive overhaul of the tax code, and worked on the USMCA trade deal with Mexico and Canada.
Beyond taxes, Buchanan was well-known for his work on animal welfare. He passed the PACT Act in 2019, which made certain types of animal cruelty a federal crime. He remains the only member of the House to win the Humane Society’s “Legislator of the Year” award twice. He also focused heavily on local environmental issues, pushing for funding to fight red tide and protect manatees.
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Before he was a politician, Buchanan was a businessman. He grew up in a working-class family in Michigan, served in the Air National Guard, and eventually built a successful company in Florida. He and his wife, Sandy, have two sons and 10 grandchildren.
Buchanan will finish out the rest of his term before leaving office. His departure opens up a safe Republican seat and marks a significant shift for Southwest Florida politics.
“Every achievement worth doing began with listening to my constituents and fighting for their priorities,” Buchanan said.
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