Neal Dunn


Neal Patrick Dunn is an American surgeon and politician of the Republican Party serving as the U.S. Representative for since 2017.

Early life and career

Dunn was born in New Haven, Connecticut on February 16, 1953. He studied Interdisciplinary Sciences at Washington and Lee University where he received his bachelor of science. He then graduated from the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and 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. 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.

U.S. House of Representatives

In August 2015, Dunn announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives for 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. He won the Republican Party nomination, defeating attorneys Lathika Thomas and Ken Sukhia. He defeated Walter Dartland in the general election. He was sworn into the House of Representatives on January 3, 2017.
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 him and his former boss", Patrick Meehan.
Dunn has held multiple virtual town hall meetings since the coronavirus pandemic began in March of 2020. The congressman has told media outlets in the past that he doesn't believe town halls are a productive format for engaging constituents. Constituents have voiced frustration with Dunn for his refusal to host town halls.
In 2018, Dunn won reelection against challenger Bob Rackleff by a vote of 67.5% to 32.5%, respectively.

Committee assignments

Gun policy

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

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. Dunn also accepted $18,500 from the telecom industry before voting to repeal the rule.

Tax reform

Dunn voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He describes the bill as "good medicine for America". 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 businessman" from his district on his support of the bill.

Education

Dunn wants to defund the Department of Education.

Healthcare

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

Personal life

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