U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) is reportedly weighing the possibility of resigning from the House in the coming days, a move that would give Republicans a one-seat majority in the chamber. Given the current dynamics of the House, another Republican defection would essentially bind the chamber and hand de facto control to the Democrats.
Dunn, 72, is a physician and former Army surgeon who has served in the House since 2017. He currently represents the Sunshine State’s 2nd Congressional District, an R+8 seat that encompasses large swathes of the Florida panhandle.
The congressman previously announced that he will not be seeking re-election following his current term last month. In a statement released on January 16, he expressed a desire to pass leadership to new conservative figures, return to Panama City, and spend more time with his family, including grandchildren.
According to a report from Fox News, multiple lawmakers have indicated that Dunn is considering a decision to retire before his term is set to end. An exact date has not been disclosed, though sources familiar with the matter reported that he would step down in time to allow for a special election this summer.
Dunn has faced health issues in the past, though it is unclear whether the lawmaker’s health has anything to do with the early retirement rumors.
According to the report, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has personally asked Dunn to finish out his term due to the razor-thin Republican majority in the chamber. When directly asked about the rumors by reporters from Politico, Punchbowl News and other outlets on Wednesday, Dunn responded only by saying “no comment.”
On Thursday, Dunn spokesperson Eleanor Allison said the claims were “not originating through this office” and threw cold water on the questions. The office has repeatedly claimed that Dunn intends to finish out his term despite rumors to the contrary.
If Dunn were to resign, it would trim the Republican House majority to just one vote due to the resignation of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on January 5 and the passing of Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) a day later.
Greene’s seat will be filled by a special election in April, while an election to fill LaMalfa’s seat in California 1st Congressional District is scheduled for this coming June. Both districts are expected to stay in Republican hands due to their respective partisan leans.
Democrats are also down one seat after Rep. Mikie Sherill (D-NJ) resigned after winning the Garden State’s gubernatorial election this past November. That safe Democrat seat will also be filled this current April.
In the interim, the loss of another vote would hand de facto control of the House to the Democrats, as U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has repeatedly voted with Democrats since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year. All in all, Massie has voted with Democrats nearly a third of the time over that period, making him one of the most consistent rebels in the GOP conference.
Massie has notably voted against several key pieces of legislation, including the Big Beautiful Bill spending package last July.
