Neal Dunn becomes 48th member to announce retirement from House after this term
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) announced he will retire at the end of his current term,making him the 48th House member to say they will not return to Capitol Hill in 2027.A physician, Army surgeon, and fifth-term representative of Florida’s 2nd District (first elected in 2016), Dunn cited a desire to spend more time with family in Panama City and to “pass the torch” to new conservative leaders. He highlighted his record on lower taxes, support for the military and veterans, protections for the unborn, healthcare innovation, and confronting threats from China and Russia. Dunn served as vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and on the House China Select Committee; he was endorsed by former President Trump and won reelection in 2024 by more than 23 points over Democrat Yen Bailey. Before his announcement, he was the only Republican candidate slated for the district in 2026; several Democrats are competing for their party’s nomination, and dunn has not endorsed a successor. The piece notes that, 21 Democrats and 27 Republicans in the House – plus 11 senators – have said they will not seek reelection, a total of 59 lawmakers planning to leave their seats.
Neal Dunn becomes 48th member to announce retirement from House after this term
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) announced that he will retire from his seat in the lower chamber at the conclusion of his term.
Dunn’s announcement makes him the 48th incumbent member of the House to decide not to return to Capitol Hill in 2027. Eleven members of the Senate have also announced they will not seek reelection, bringing the total number of lawmakers retiring from their seats on Capitol Hill to 59.
“As a physician, an Army surgeon, and veteran from a multi-generational military family, I brought my commitment to life, liberty, and conservative values to Washington. It has been my greatest honor to fight for lower taxes, our military and veterans, the unborn, healthcare innovation, and policies that empower Americans over bureaucracy and addressing threats from Communist China, Russia, and others,” Dunn said in a statement.
The representative from Florida’s 2nd Congressional District is serving his fifth term in the House after first getting elected in 2016. He said he is retiring to spend more time with his family.
“The time has come to pass the torch to new conservative leaders, return home to Panama City, and spend more precious time with my family and our beloved grandchildren,” Dunn said.
Dunn served as the vice chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and also served on the House China Select Committee. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, the Floridian doctor defeated his general election challenger, Democrat Yen Bailey, by over 23 percentage points in 2024.
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Before he announced his retirement, Dunn was the only Republican slated to run in Florida’s 2nd District in 2026. His 2026 challenger and two other candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination. Dunn has not endorsed any candidate to succeed him.
In the House, 21 Democrats and 27 Republicans have announced they will not seek reelection in 2026. This does not include the four original congresspeople of the 119th Congress who died before their 2026 elections: former Democratic Texas Rep. Sylvester Turner, former Democratic Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva, former Democratic Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, and former Republican California Rep. Doug LaMalfa.
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