Dawn Buckingham

Dawn Buckingham (February 21, 1968) is a Republican State Senator for District 24 in the Texas Senate. She was elected in November 2016 and sworn in on January 10, 2017. In addition to being a Texas Senator, Buckingham is an oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon.

Dawn Buckingham
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 24th district
Assumed office
January 10, 2017
Preceded byTroy Fraser
Personal details
Born (1968-02-21) February 21, 1968
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Edward Buckingham
Children2
ResidenceLakeway, Texas
Alma materUniversity of Texas at Austin
University of Texas Medical Branch
ProfessionOculoplastic surgeon

Background

Buckingham is a seventh generation Texan. Buckingham grew up in the Dallas suburb of Rockwall, Texas, before moving to Austin. She attended Westlake High School.[1] She attended college at the University of Texas at Austin, and medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.

Buckingham is married to Ed Buckingham; they are both practicing physicians.[2]

Buckingham was a school board member of the Lake Travis Independent School District from 2014 to 2015.[3] She was also an appointee to the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission[1] and the vice chair of the Texas State Board for Educator Certification.[3]

Political career

2016 Texas Senate election

The district stretches from the Austin suburbs in Travis County, West to Texas Hill Country, and North to Abilene covering roughly 20,000 square miles of territory.[4] Buckingham was one of six candidates in the Republican primary to replace retiring state senator Troy Fraser.[5] Buckingham portrayed herself as a political outsider and was endorsed by former governor Rick Perry.[6] In the March 1, 2016, primary she received 25% of the vote, with state representative Susan King of Abilene receiving 27% of the vote.[7] Because neither candidate received a majority, they advanced to a runoff election in May. After a contentious campaign focusing on the records and geographic profiles of the two candidates,[4] Buckingham won the runoff with over 60% of the vote.[8]

In the November general election, Buckingham faced Democratic nominee Virginia “Jennie Lou” Leeder of Llano. Buckingham won with over 70% of the vote.[9]

Texas Senate career

Buckingham filed her first bill to subject faithless presidential electors to a civil penalty of $5,000 and to bar them from being electors in the future. The American Conservative Union has given her a 96% lifetime rating.[10]

References
  1. Munsch, Don (July 31, 2015). "Lakeway doctor makes run at state Senate". Killeen Daily Herald. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  2. "Meet Dr. Dawn - Dr. Dawn Buckingham".
  3. Rice, Rachel (August 19, 2015). "Dawn Buckingham announces candidacy for state senate". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  4. Walters, Edgar (May 11, 2016). "Buckingham, King Pull No Punches in Senate Runoff". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  5. Rauf, David (January 16, 2016). "Primaries see heated 'arms race' of ad buys". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  6. Walters, Edgar (January 22, 2016). "Candidates Struggle to Stand Out Across Huge Senate District 24". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  7. Thorp, Clay (March 3, 2016). "Buckingham, King in runoff for Senate 24". Killeen Daily Herald. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  8. "Dawn Buckingham bests King in District 24 race". Kilee. Abilene Reporter-News. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  9. Sullivan, Josh (November 9, 2016). "Buckingham takes Texas Senate District 24". Killeen Daily Herald. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  10. "Buckingham files bill to punish faithless electors". Burnet Bulletin. December 28, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
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