Republican Rep. Neal Dunn is leaving his job, the latest in a series of GOP lawmaker to retire over the past year.
Dunn announced Tuesday he will not seek reelection to Congress, becoming the eighth House Republican to retire from public office in the 2026 election cycle in a move that threatens to further narrow the GOP’s already razor-thin majority.
Dunn, 72, a urologist and former Army surgeon who has represented Florida’s 2nd Congressional District since 2016, said he wants to spend more time with his family.
“After much prayerful consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided not to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives. This will conclude my service after five meaningful terms representing the people of Florida’s Second Congressional District,” Dunn posted on X.
“The time has come to pass the torch to new conservative leaders, return home to Panama City, and spend more precious time with my family and our beloved grandchildren. I am deeply grateful for your trust, support, and prayers over these years,” he wrote.
Please see my statement on my decision not to seek re-election. pic.twitter.com/sogoXQTJZD
— Dr. Neal Dunn (@DrNealDunnFL2) January 13, 2026
Dunn’s announcement brings the total number of House members not seeking reelection in 2026 to 47, according to Ballotpedia. The breakdown includes 21 Democrats and 26 Republicans, with eight Republicans retiring from public office, 18 running for other offices including 10 seeking governorships, seven seeking Senate seats, and one running for state attorney general.
The GOP retirements come as Republicans hold a 219-213 majority in the House, with three vacancies. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned her Georgia seat effective January 5 after a public clash with President Donald Trump over his second-term agenda.
Dunn won his fifth term in 2024 by 23 points in the Panhandle-based district, while voters in the District backed Donald Trump by 18 points. Republicans are strongly favored to hold the seat, which was transformed from a battleground district into a safe Republican one after redistricting in 2016.
The Florida Republican joins a growing list of House Republicans exiting Congress. Eight Republicans are retiring from public office: Dunn, Troy Nehls of Texas, Jodey Arrington of Texas, Michael McCaul of Texas, Morgan Luttrell of Texas, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Dan Newhouse of Washington.
Ten Republicans are running for governor: Byron Donalds of Florida, Andy Biggs of Arizona, David Schweikert of Arizona, Randy Feenstra of Iowa, John James of Michigan, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and others.
Seven Republicans are seeking Senate seats: Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Ashley Hinson of Iowa, Andy Barr of Kentucky, Buddy Carter of Georgia, Mike Collins of Georgia, and others.
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is running for Texas attorney general.
On the Democratic side, 21 House members are not seeking reelection, including 13 retiring from public office, seven running for Senate, and one running for governor.
Several longtime Democratic leaders have announced retirements, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Rep. Danny Davis of Illinois, and Rep. Dwight Evans of Pennsylvania.
The wave of Republican retirements has raised concerns among GOP leadership about maintaining their slim majority in the 2026 midterms. Historically, the party controlling the White House loses seats during midterm elections.
At this point in the 2018 midterm cycle during Trump’s first term, 20 House Republicans had announced they would not seek reelection. Democrats won control of the chamber.
As many as 20 more House Republicans could announce retirements in the coming weeks, according to some reports. One Republican insider said, “Morale has never been lower.”
Republicans cite several reasons for the exodus, including frustration with legislative gridlock, diminished legislative output, and concerns about the 2026 midterms. This Congress has only gotten 46 bills signed into law, compared to the last Congress’s 274.
President Trump told lawmakers during a House GOP retreat at the Kennedy Center that he hopes Republicans pull off an “epic midterm victory.”
“They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterms. You gotta win the midterms,” Trump said. “Because if we don’t win the midterms … they’ll find a reason to impeach me. I’ll get impeached.”