WASHINGTON – Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan, who has represented Florida’s 16th Congressional District for 20 years, announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of his current term.
Mr. Buchanan, 74, has been a member of Congress since 2007 and currently serves as vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees federal tax, trade and health care policy. His retirement marks the end of his tenure as the longest-serving Republican representing Southwest Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“After 20 years of service, I believe this is the right time to pass the torch and begin a new chapter in my life,” Buchanan said in a statement.
During his time in Congress, Buchanan sponsored or supported dozens of legislative measures that became law under four presidential administrations, according to his office. His legislative history includes funding the National Veterans Cemetery in Sarasota, participating in the development of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and working on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Mr. Buchanan has also served in leadership roles on the Ways and Means Committee, including as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Taxation and as a member of the Joint Committee on Taxation. Most recently, he served as Chairman of the Revenue and Health Care Subcommittee, where he worked on issues related to Medicare, veterans’ health care, and prescription drug costs.
Beyond economic and health policy, Mr. Buchanan has supported legislation related to animal welfare and environmental protection. He is a co-sponsor of federal legislation banning animal abuse and torture, signed into law in 2019, and has supported efforts to address water quality, red tide, and wildlife conservation in Florida. His broad legislative portfolio includes initiatives related to veteran services, small business support, military readiness, and agricultural policy.
Mr. Buchanan previously served as co-chair of Florida’s Congressional Delegation, a role focused on aligning federal priorities to Florida’s legislators.
Before joining Congress, Buchanan was a business executive and served in the Air National Guard. He has also held leadership roles in state and national business organizations and has been involved in philanthropy in Southwest Florida.
His retirement is expected to open the race for Florida’s 16th Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. Mr. Buchanan did not announce plans for his next steps after leaving Congress.
