U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is entering a new chapter in life after 20 years in public office: retirement.
The 74-year-old Republican from Manatee County announced on Tuesday that won't seek reelection this year and will step down when his term ends.
"I believe it’s the right time to pass the torch," he said in a news release announcing his plans, adding that serving Southwest Florida "has been the honor of my lifetime."
"Every achievement worth doing began with listening to my constituents and fighting for their priorities," he said. "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's decision was a change from November 2024, when he wrote to the state Division of Elections to have his name placed on the active candidates list.
Buchanan is the third Florida Republican member of Congress who will not seek reelection this fall. Rep. Neal Dunn is retiring from a North Florida district that includes Panama City and Tallahassee, and Rep. Bryon Donalds is giving up his Southwest Florida seat to run for governor.
His Republican-leaning District 16 includes all of Manatee County and areas of south Hillsborough County.
According to the state Division of Elections, Democratics Jonathan Harris, Glenn Pearson and Jan Schneider have filed to run for the seat, along with with no-party candidates Mark Davis and Keith Varian. As of Tuesday, no Republicans have filed, but the opening should gain a lot of interest.
Buchanan is the longest-serving Republican to represent Southwest Florida in the House, Tuesday's news release said. He took office in 2007 after defeating Democratic Christine Jennings by less than 400 votes. He has comfortably won reelections since then to hold onto the seat.
After two decades, his legislative record is extensive, with 51 of his bills and initiatives signed into law under presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. According to the release, his record of bipartisan agreements also includes $27.8 million to design and construct a national veterans cemetery in Sarasota.
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His prior work includes playing a role in developing the 2017 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," which reformed the U.S. tax code. He also collaborated with the White House to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade agreement the first Trump administration negotiated to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.
He's been an advocate for animal welfare and protecting Florida's natural resources. For instance, his bipartisan legislation to ban animal cruelty and torture nationwide was signed into law in 2019. He also received the Humane Society's national Legislator of the Year Award twice.
He has also worked to combat red tide, protect manatees and more.
Buchanan is currently the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, where he advanced bipartisan efforts to protect Medicare, expand access to care for seniors and veterans and lower prescription drug costs.
His other achievements range from creating a national veteran identification card to targeted tax relief for Florida citrus growers and more.
Buchanan is among the wealthiest members of Congress, with an estimated worth of about $260 million, according to market data platform Quiver Quantitative. His business interests range from reinsurance companies to auto dealerships he purchased before running for Congress.
Buchanan grew up in suburban Detroit as one of six children. Before public office, he served in the Air National Guard. He also chaired the Florida Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Buchanan, who lives in Longboat Key with his wife, Sandy, has two sons and 10 grandchildren. The couple created the Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization in Southwest Florida.
Information from News Service of Florida was used in this report.
