Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-16) has announced that he will retire at the end of his current term, on Jan. 3, 2027. Buchanan, who is the vice chair of the House of Representatives' Ways & Means Committee and chair of the Health Subcommittee, won election over Democrat Christine Jennings in 2006 by just 369 votes. He is the longest-serving Republican to represent Southwest Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives and has passed 51 pieces of legislation under four presidents. He's one of a growing number of Republican lawmakers who will not seek re-election in the 2026 midterms, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 

Buchanan, 74, who was born in a small town outside Detroit, has an estimated worth of about $260 million—most of it coming from his automotive businesses, which include several dealerships in Florida—making him one of the wealthiest members of Congress. In official financial disclosure filings, he's also reported ownership interests in other businesses, including offshore reinsurance companies and a charter-jet business. 

A vocal advocate for animal welfare, Buchanan helped pass the PACT Act, which makes animal cruelty and torture a federal felony. He's also worked to combat red tide, maintain safe water quality, and protect manatees and other coastal ecosystems. He's a self-described "strong defender of the Second Amendment, a life member of the NRA, and a gun owner and hunter" and supported Donald Trump's travel ban for people from seven Muslim countries in 2017. Generally considered a moderate Republican, Trump endorsed him for reelection in 2021, 2024 and 2025. 

In 2011, working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Buchanan helped facilitate the construction of Sarasota National Cemetery, which includes grave sites, cremated remains sites, and other buildings and structures necessary for funerals for veterans and their families. He helped develop and implement the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and worked with the White House to pass the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Cook Political Report, a well-known election forecaster, rates Buchanan's district—which covers all of Manatee County and parts of southern Hillsborough County—a "solid R," meaning it's predominantly Republican. Although Buchanan's son James is a politician who's currently running for a state Senate seat, no potential successors have been named. 

“Serving the people of Southwest Florida has been the honor of my lifetime,” Buchanan said in a statement announcing his retirement. “Every achievement worth doing began with listening to my constituents and fighting for their priorities. 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. After 20 years of service, I believe it’s the right time to pass the torch and begin a new chapter in my life.”