Neal Dunn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byGwen Graham (redistricting)
Personal details
Born (1953-02-16) February 16, 1953
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Leah Dunn
​
(m. 1987)​
Children3
EducationWashington and Lee University (BS)
George Washington University (MD)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
RankMajor

Neal Patrick Dunn (born February 16, 1953) is an American surgeon and Republican Party politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 2nd congressional district since 2017.

Early life and career

Dunn was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 16, 1953.[1][2] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary sciences from Washington and Lee University and a Doctor of Medicine from the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. He completed his medical internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dunn served in the United States Army for 11 years of active duty, reaching the rank of major.[3] He then settled in Panama City, Florida, where he helped found the Panama City Urological Center, the Panama City Surgery Center, and was the founding chairman of Summit Bank.[4]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2016

In August 2015, Dunn announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 2nd congressional district in the 2016 elections. The district's one-term incumbent, Democrat Gwen Graham, opted to retire after court-ordered redistricting made the district heavily Republican.[4][5][6] He won the Republican nomination, narrowly defeating attorneys Mary Thomas and Ken Sukhia,[7] and defeated Walter Dartland in the general election.[8] He was sworn in on January 3, 2017.[9]

2018

In 2018, Dunn won reelection against challenger Bob Rackleff, 67.4% to 32.6%.[10]

2020

Constituents voiced frustration with Dunn for his refusal to host town halls.[11] Dunn held multiple virtual town hall meetings since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020..[12]

Dunn was relected in 2020 with 97.9% of the vote in 2020. He had no primary election or official general election opponents.[13]

2022

In 2022, Dunn defeated U.S. Representative Al Lawson with 59.8% of the vote. The boundaries of the district had been redrawn as determined by the 2020 Florida redistricting cycle.

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[14]

Caucus memberships

  • House Border Security Caucus
  • Conservative Climate Caucus
  • Wildfire Caucus
  • Congressional French Caucus
  • House Army Caucus
  • Friends of Belgium Caucus
  • Bulgaria Caucus
  • Congressional Wine Caucus
  • Healthcare Innovation Caucus[15]
  • Republican Study Committee[16]

Political positions

Dunn's campaign website identifies him as conservative.

Gun policy

Dunn received an "AQ" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) during his 2016 run for office—the highest rating possible for a non-incumbent.[17] In 2020 and 2022 he was endorsed and graded "A".[18][19] He does not support a ban of semi-automatic weapons.[20] From 2015 to 2016, Dunn accepted $1,000 from the NRA-PVF.[21]

Net neutrality

Along with 107 Republican members of Congress, Dunn sent Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai a letter on December 13, 2017, supporting his plan to repeal net neutrality protections ahead of the commission's vote.[22] Dunn accepted $18,500 from the telecom industry before voting to repeal the rule.[23]

Tax reform

Dunn voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,[24] calling the bill "good medicine for America".[25] He believes it will benefit many generations of Americans with a "great economy in which there will be jobs, there will be opportunity, there's possibilities for literally a whole new generation or two of Americans". Dunn says he has received support from "mostly small businessmen" in his district for supporting the bill.[26]

Education

Dunn wants to defund the Department of Education.[27]

Healthcare

Dunn supports repealing the Affordable Care Act, which he says is "failing", saying "no one can afford" the premiums and deductibles.[28]

2020 presidential election certification

In December 2020, Dunn was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[29] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[30][31][32]

After the 2021 storming of the Capitol, Dunn condemned the rioters, but still voted to object to the certification of several states' electoral votes.[33][34]

Israel

Dunn voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[35][36]

Personal life

Dunn and his wife, Leah, have three sons and three grandsons.[6] On April 9, 2020, Dunn's office announced that he tested positive for COVID-19.[37]

Electoral history

Florida 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary, 2016[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Neal Dunn 33,886 41.4
Republican Mary Thomas 32,178 39.3
Republican Ken Sukhia 15,826 19.3
Total votes 81,890 100.0
Florida 2nd Congressional District General Election, 2016[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Neal Dunn 231,163 67.3
Democratic Walter Dartland 102,801 29.9
Libertarian Rob Lapham 9,395 2.7
Write-in votes Antoine Edward Roberts 3 0.1
Total votes 343,362 100.0
Florida 2nd Congressional District General Election, 2018[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Neal Dunn (incumbent) 199,335 67.4
Democratic Bob Rackleff 96,233 32.6
Total votes 295,568 100.0
Florida 2nd Congressional District General Election, 2020[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Neal Dunn (incumbent) 305,337 97.9
Write-in votes Kim O'Connor 6,662 2.1
Total votes 311,999 100.0

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov.
  2. ↑ "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  3. ↑ McMullian, Bo (January 14, 2016). "Jackson County Times - "Conservative for Congress" Neal Dunn visits Marianna". Jackson County Times. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Burlew, Jeff (August 10, 2015). "Panama City surgeon Dunn announces run for Congress". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ Garman, Valerie (August 7, 2015). "Neal Dunn announces candidacy for Congress". Panama City News Herald. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Bennett, Lanetra. "Neal Dunn Announces Candidacy for Florida Congressional District 2". WCTV-TV. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Dunn wins GOP CD2, Democratic race too close to call". Tallahassee Democrat. August 30, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Lawson and Dunn head to Washington". Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  9. ↑ LAKANA (January 3, 2017). "Rep. Neal Dunn sworn in to 115th Congress". Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Florida Election Results 2018: Midterm Results & Polls". NBC News. December 21, 2018.
  11. ↑ Mueller, Sarah. "Rep. Dunn Frustrates Constituents By Not Holding Town Hall". Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Dunn shuns citizens calling for town hall". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Republican Neal Dunn re-elected in US House District 2 race". November 4, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Neal P. Dunn". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Caucus List". Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Member List". Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Republican Candidate Neal Dunn Endorsed by NRA Political Victory Fund". Neal Dunn Conservative for Congress. Friends of Neal Dunn. October 12, 2016. Archived from the original on October 5, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  18. ↑ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Florida". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ↑ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Florida". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. ↑ Henderson, John (February 22, 2018). "Bay residents, leaders split on gun 'common sense'". Panama City News Herald. Panama City, Florida. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  21. ↑ Grinberg, Emanuella (February 21, 2018). "These Florida lawmakers accepted money from the National Rifle Association". CNN. Atlanta. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Letter to FCC Chairman Pai" (PDF). December 13, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Here's a List of the Members of Congress Who Just Told Ajit Pai to Repeal Net Neutrality". Motherboard. December 14, 2017. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  24. ↑ Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  25. ↑ Milbank, Dana (December 21, 2017). "Dana Milbank: Republicans have their own Obamacare now". stltoday.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  26. ↑ Holton, Jennifer (December 20, 2017). "Rep. Dunn on GOP tax reform victory: Win for "generations"". WJHG. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  27. ↑ Call, James. "GOP 2nd District candidates tout conservative credentials". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Florida Voices React to Senate Proposal to Repeal and Replace Obamacare". Sunshine State News | Florida Political News. June 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  29. ↑ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". AP News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  30. ↑ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  32. ↑ Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  33. ↑ Call, James. "Congressman and Trump loyalist Neal Dunn will back Electoral College challenge". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  34. ↑ Cobb, Nathan. "Congressman Neal Dunn condemns Capitol violence, still contests Electoral College results". News Herald. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  35. ↑ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  36. ↑ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ↑ Florida, News Service of (April 10, 2020). "North Florida Congressman Positive For COVID-19". news.wgcu.org. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Primary Election Republican Primary". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  39. ↑ "2016 General Election". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  40. ↑ "2018 General Election". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  41. ↑ "2020 General Election". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
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