Drew Dixon
Republican U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn has every intention of holding onto his seat against Democratic challenger Yen Bailey.
Dunn represents Florida’s 2nd Congressional District in Northwest Florida, which covers a big chunk of terrain that encompasses 15 counties from the Big Bend area into the Panhandle.
While much of the district is rural and home to a traditionally conservative population, there is the catch that Tallahassee could throw a more centrist or even left-leaning voting bloc into consideration. But the 71-year-old Dunn, who is also a surgeon and a U.S. Army veteran, is campaigning to be re-elected to a fifth term, and he does enjoy an advantage, given the majority of registered Republicans in the district.
Dunn leans into the new Republican movement of being a big supporter of former president Donald Trump. He voted against accepting the 2020 election results on the floor of the House nearly four years ago. Dunn lives in Panama City and pulls the conservative line of being anti-abortion rights and holding other traditional right-leaning stances. And he’s never shy about his military roots.
“We must always take care of our military,” Dunn’s congressional website says as a billboard on the homepage.
Trump endorsed Dunn, who was first elected to Congress in 2016, the same year that Trump was ushered into office as President.
Meanwhile, Bailey has an uphill battle in her effort to snatch the seat from the entrenched Dunn. The 47-year-old Bailey is an experienced lawyer in Tallahassee. She also has a unique experience on her path to becoming an American.
Her father was a South Vietnamese Air Force pilot who escaped the fall of Saigon and relocated to America and eventually settled in Destin.
But Bailey has been involved in multiple political and legal causes in Tallahassee and she’s touting those experiences as she runs for Congress.
“With her extensive background in public service and dedication to the community, Yen Bailey offers a fresh perspective for District 2. Her journey from the daughter of immigrants to a congressional candidate embodies the American dream and the power of perseverance,” Bailey’s campaign website says.
Bailey’s challenge is a heavy one. She was named to replace the original Democratic candidate, Meghann Hovey, after Hovey dropped out of the congressional race in late July.
Dunn also has a heavy financial arsenal compared to Bailey. In September, the Tallahassee Democrat reported that Dunn had about $680,000 in campaign financing compared to less than $18,000 for Bailey.
