Neal Dunn

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]

• United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Health
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
  • Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce

• Republican Study Committee[14]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

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]