Neal Dunn

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

Neal Dunn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byGwen Graham
Personal details
Born (1953-02-16) February 16, 1953
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
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

Early life and career

Dunn was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 16, 1953.[1][2] He earned a Bachelor of Scienc 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. He served in the United States Army for eleven years of active duty service, 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

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 a court-ordered redistricting made the district heavily Republican.[4][5][6] He won the Republican Party nomination, defeating attorneys Mary Thomas and Ken Sukhia.[7] He defeated Walter Dartland in the general election.[8] He was sworn into the House of Representatives on January 3, 2017.[9]

Brian Schubert, Neal Dunn's chief of staff resigned in February 2018 following the House Ethics Committee having launched an investigation into alleged sexual harassment by Schubert and Pat Meehan.[10]

Dunn has held multiple virtual town hall meetings since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020. The congressman has told media outlets in the past that he doesn't believe town halls are a productive format for engaging constituents.[11] Constituents have voiced frustration with Dunn for his refusal to host town halls.[12]

In 2018, Dunn won reelection against challenger Bob Rackleff by a vote of 67.5% to 32.5%, respectively.[13]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Gun policy

Dunn received an "AQ" rating from the NRA during his 2016 run for office — the highest rating possible for a non-incumbent.[15] Dunn does not support a ban of semi-automatic weapons.[16] From 2015 to 2016, Dunn accepted US$1,000 from the NRA's Political Victory Fund.[17]

Net neutrality

Dunn, along with 107 Republican members of Congress, 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.[18] Dunn also accepted $18,500 from the telecom industry before voting to repeal the rule.[19]

Tax reform

Dunn voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[20] He describes the bill as "good medicine for America".[21] Dunn believes that the bill 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" from his district on his support of the bill.[22]

Education

Dunn wants to defund the Department of Education.[23]

Healthcare

Dunn supports repealing the Affordable Care Act, which he says is "failing," saying "no one can afford" the premiums and deductibles.[24]

Texas v. Pennsylvania

In December 2020, Dunn was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives who signed 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 prevailed[25] over 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 the election held by another state.[26][27][28]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion." Additionally, Pelosi reprimanded Dunn and the other House members who supported the lawsuit: "The 126 Republican Members that signed onto this lawsuit brought dishonor to the House. Instead of upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution, they chose to subvert the Constitution and undermine public trust in our sacred democratic institutions."[29][30] New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell, citing section three of the 14th Amendment, called for Pelosi to not seat Dunn and the other Republicans who signed the brief supporting the suit. Pascrell argued that "the text of the 14th Amendment expressly forbids Members of Congress from engaging in rebellion against the United States. Trying to overturn a democratic election and install a dictator seems like a pretty clear example of that."[31]

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.[32]

References
  1. DUNN, Neal Patrick, (1953 - )
  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. 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. 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. Bade, Rachael. "Rep. Dunn's chief of staff resigns after alleged sexual harassment". Politico. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  11. "Dunn shuns citizens calling for town hall". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  12. Mueller, Sarah. "Rep. Dunn Frustrates Constituents By Not Holding Town Hall". Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  13. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2018-election/midterms/fl#house
  14. "Member List". Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  15. "Republican Candidate Neal Dunn Endorsed by NRA Political Victory Fund". Neal Dunn Conservative for Congress. Friends of Neal Dunn. October 12, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  16. Henderson, John (February 22, 2018). "Bay residents, leaders split on gun 'common sense'". Panama City News Herald. Panama City, Florida. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  17. Grinberg, Emanuella (February 21, 2018). "These Florida lawmakers accepted money from the National Rifle Association". CNN. Atlanta. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  18. https://energycommerce.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/121317-FCC-Net-Neutrality.pdf
  19. "Here's a List of the Members of Congress Who Just Told Ajit Pai to Repeal Net Neutrality". Motherboard. December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  20. Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  21. Milbank, Dana. "Dana Milbank: Republicans have their own Obamacare now". stltoday.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  22. Holton, Jennifer. "Rep. Dunn on GOP tax reform victory: Win for "generations"". WJHG. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  23. Call, James. "GOP 2nd District candidates tout conservative credentials". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  24. "Florida Voices React to Senate Proposal to Repeal and Replace Obamacare". Sunshine State News | Florida Political News. June 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
  27. "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.
  28. 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.
  29. Smith, David (December 12, 2020). "Supreme court rejects Trump-backed Texas lawsuit aiming to overturn election results". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  30. "Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting GOP Election Sabotage Lawsuit" (Press release). Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  31. Williams, Jordan (December 11, 2020). "Democrat asks Pelosi to refuse to seat lawmakers supporting Trump's election challenges". TheHill. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  32. Florida, News Service of. "North Florida Congressman Positive For COVID-19". news.wgcu.org. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Gwen Graham		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 2nd congressional district
2017–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Val Demings		 United States Representatives by seniority
262nd		 Succeeded by
Adriano Espaillat
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