An earth shattering retirement is about to his the Republican Party – one that has sent “shockwaves” through GOP leadership and the White House, according to Fox News.
An early retirement by Rep. Neal Dunn has Speaker Mike Johnson and the House Republicans scrambling. Insiders say the Florida congressman is expected resign his seat before the November midterm elections, which Dunn has refused to deny.
Multiple sources told Fox News on Wednesday that Dunn is prepared to depart Congress before his term ends in January 2027, a move that would effectively eliminate the razor-thin Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch reported that a “top source” said Dunn would announce an early retirement next week for a “time certain” before the midterms, potentially triggering a summer special election. Schorsch cited health concerns as the driving factor, and said Dunn has battled long Covid and currently walks with a knee brace and cane.
.@Fla_Pol trying to track down rumor that Republican @DrNealDunnFL2 is resigning imminently rather than at end of his term, which he previously announced.
Dunn stepping down now would imperil @HouseGOP’s majority.
Developing…
— Peter Schorsch (@PeterSchorschFL) February 10, 2026
When approached by multiple reporters on Wednesday, Dunn refused to deny the rumors.
💯 not done with this story.
Gonna be a long 4-day weekend for @DrNealDunnFL2 staffers.
+ if you’re running in CD 2 in 2026, best get ready for an oddly timed Spesh Elex https://t.co/oKQoA5VQY7
— Peter Schorsch (@PeterSchorschFL) February 11, 2026
Dunn tells me he won’t comment on this report when asked if he will retire early https://t.co/PqsZn8K7Ij
— Erik Wasson (@elwasson) February 11, 2026
Republican leadership appears to believe the rumors are credible, according to Punchbowl News.
“House Republican leadership believes that Neal Dunn is going to resign by July. I know Dunn is denying it. But the leadership thinks he’s gone in five months.”
Johnson confirmed Wednesday that he has personally asked Dunn to push back his retirement and serve out his full term.
“He is a beloved member of Congress and a great man. And, you know, he’s informed us he’s not going to run for re-election. And what he does from here forward, I’m not sure,” Johnson told reporters. “You need to ask him about it. But I’ve encouraged him to stay and be part of this, and I think he wants to do that. And so you have to ask him all the circumstances.”
Republicans currently hold a very narrow 218 to 214 majority in the House, and have three seats vacant. Another retirement before the March 10 special election to fill former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Georgia seat would drop the GOP-controlled House into an effective tie.
The speaker has already experienced the pain of that narrow majority, and has failed seven times in the New Year to pass bills without Democratic support. Just Tuesday night, three Republicans joined Democrats that threatens to repeal President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
“This is life with a small majority,” Johnson said after that defeat. “I need unanimity every day, and we didn’t get it tonight.”
If Dunn does resign early, Johnson would face months of gridlock until both the Georgia and Florida seats are filled. Special elections in Florida typically take 120 to 130 days after a departure for the primary, with the general election taking another 70 to 80 days more.
Dunn, 72, announced in mid-January that he would not seek a sixth term after nearly a decade representing Florida’s heavily Republican 2nd Congressional District.
The former Army surgeon said he wanted to spend more time with his family in Panama City.
“After much prayerful consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided not to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives,” Dunn wrote in his January 13 statement. “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.”
Dunn’s district, which stretches across the Florida Panhandle, is considered safe Republican territory. President Trump carried it by 18 percentage points over Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, and Dunn won his last re-election by 23 points.
Eleanor Allison, a spokesperson for Dunn, has denied the retirement rumors, and said the congressman “has no plans to leave office before the end of his term” and that “those rumors are not originating from this office.”
However, lawmakers close to Dunn told Florida Politics that health issues may force his hand regardless of his intentions.
Dunn is one of 50 House members not seeking re-election in 2026, with 30 Republicans and 20 Democrats choosing to retire or run for other offices. Greene remains the only member to resign early this cycle.