The House GOP is on edge as retirement rumors swirl around Republican Neil Dunn
Fox News Digital was told on Wednesday that lawmakers believe Rep. Neil Dunn, R-Fla., is considering not serving out the remainder of his term in the House before his scheduled retirement at the end of 2026, and that he was discussing The command With the leadership of the House of Representatives.
speaker mike johnson, The Los Angeles Republican deferred to Dunn when asked about his plans but said he urged the Florida Republican to remain in Congress.
Rep. Neil Dunn, R-Fla., arrives at the Rayburn House Office Building on November 2, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“He’s a beloved member of Congress and a great man,” Johnson told reporters. “As you know, he informed us that he will not run for re-election. I’m not sure what he’s going to do from now on.”
“You have to ask him about that. But I encouraged him to stay and be a part of this, and I think he wants to do it. So you have to ask him about all the circumstances.”
Dunn told reporters he had “no comment” on the matter the same day To CNN.
Another Republican departure before a special election in March to fill the seat suddenly vacated by former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., would drop the House margin to 217-214.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Los Angeles, pauses to answer reporters’ questions as he arrives for an early closed-door meeting of the Republican Conference on how to end the partial government shutdown and deal with demands related to immigration enforcement operations, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, February 3, 2026. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
Johnson warns House Republicans to ‘stay healthy’ as GOP majority shrinks to the edge
That means Johnson will likely be dealing with a one-seat margin of error until August, when California’s governor takes office. Gavin Newsom She has scheduled a special election to replace the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif.
Dunn announced last month that he would not seek re-election after serving in Congress for nearly a decade.
Crowded Primary elections is shaping up in its wake, a scramble that could be accelerated by Dunne’s potential early retirement.
A special primary in Florida is generally held 120 to 130 days after the early departure of the House, with a general election likely 70 to 80 days after that.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis holds a press conference to speak against the Fourth Amendment, which would limit government interference in abortion in Florida at Grove Bible Church in Winter Garden, Florida. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital was told House lawmakers are speaking with the governor. Ron DeSantis office on the timing of a potential special election for Dunn, and whether Florida election law would allow him to remain in office even after the primary ends.
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But Fox News Digital was also told that lawmakers don’t think it’s likely that Dunn would leave his seat early if that possibility doesn’t pan out.
The offices of Dunn and DeSantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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