With House GOP Majority Teetering on the Brink, Florida Congressman Plans to Retire Early: Report

[Mr. Sparkle]

Source: Mediaite.com

Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) is planning to announce an early retirement next week, according to Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch — an exit that would drag the House Republican majority out the door with him. Dunn, 72, announced last month that he had decided “[a]fter much prayerful consideration and discussion with my family” to not seek re-election.

Currently, Republicans have the majority in the House by a very narrow margin, 218 to 214, and three seats vacant, meaning any time Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is facing a party-line vote, he can only afford to lose a single Republican member’s support. Tied votes fail, and there is no tie-breaker for the House like the role Vice President JD Vance serves in the Senate.

In other words, Dunn making an early exit would have repercussions beyond just the representation of his district in the Florida Panhandle, making it all but impossible for Johnson to move any bills forward unless he can win over at least one Democrat while preserving the unanimous support of his caucus.

snip ...
Schorsch followed up Wednesday with a new report citing a “top source” who said Dunn would announce he was retiring early at some point next week, along with a “time certain” before the midterms elections in November, setting up a special election for the summer. Schorsch added that Dunn’s early retirement would be “health related,” apparently after ongoing complications from Covid.

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/with-house-gop-majority-teetering-on-the-brink-florida-congressman-plans-to-retire-early-report/

[bucolic_frolic]

1. The slim majority not explained well in many articles

"218 to 214, and three seats vacant"

There are 435 seats? So that means 432 are incumbents. How do you subtract one and get a tie? 217 to 214 doesn't seem like a tie to me.

[lostnfound]

4. Agreed. Currently one GOP breaking ranks is 217 to 215, but 2 breakers are 216 to 216

One more vacancy is 217 to 216. Johnsen now will need unanimity to pass something.

However, the fact that just one GOP breaking ranks would now be 216 to 217 means that Dems only need to convince one single GOP rep to break ranks, and they could win a vote that would previously have failed. Previously the democrats would have needed two GOP votes to pass something. Of course, it’s hard for dems to get bills up for a vote.

But there are also illnesses or reps out of pocket for various reasons that can make this more interesting.

[reACTIONary]

9. Thnx, helpful explanation

[Polybius]

18. Actually, it wasn't

It's 218 to 214 now. If and when he resigns, it becomes 217-214. That poster incorrectly stated it would be 217-216. Mathematically, that was bad. Democrats stay at 214, as going to 216 would mean two magically appear out of nowhere.

[reACTIONary]

22. I haven't done the math, but...

What I thought he was taking into account one or more "crossing the aisle."

217 - 214 Party line vote Goppers win
216 - 215 One Across the Aisle Goppers Win
215 - 216 Two Across the Aisle Dems Win

Still doesn't fit what was posted.

Does this make any sense? It doesn't take into account abstentions.

216 - 215 One Gopper Abstention, Goppers Win
215 - 215 Two Gopper Abstention, Dems Win in that a tie means the bill is defeated

[aggiesal]

30. Your arithmatic is what I used ...

Currently GQP has 218.
Losing Dunn makes it 217

(D)'s still have 214.

1 GQP vote defects the score becomes (Q) 216 - (D) 215
A 2nd vote defects the score flips that result to (D) 216 - (Q) 215

Little Mikie doesn't have power he thinks he has.

I hope Dunn doesn't quit until it's too late to have a special election by the Primaries this spring/summer.

[onenote]

15. The Nunn vacancy, assuming it occurs before Greene's replacement takes office in March, would make it 217-214

So even then an R voting with the D's would make it 216-215 in favor of the Rs, so Johnson wouldn't need unanimity, just no more than one breaking ranks, same as now.

[mdbl]

2. I'm sure Gov DeSatan will hurry to fill it.

He'll announce a special election.

[Omnipresent]

3. He prefers to be called, "Meatball Ron".

How do i know this?
He never objected to trump calling him that.

[Raftergirl]

5. Anyone check the Epstein files to see if his name is there?

[OMGWTF]

10. No, but Rep. Massey said that T💩p's name showed up ONE MLLION times in the unredacted files.

[Attilatheblond]

25. Wondering if some GOP Reps actually found the limit of what lawlessness they can stomach so they leave the House

Not the most courageous move they could take, but it might be a glimmer that even some GOP pols have limits to what they will be a party to.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. NPR tracker

https://www.npr.org/2025/09/15/nx-s1-5534254/house-senate-retirement-tracker-2026

They haven't updated yet but as soon as he "officially" announces, they will update!

[ChicagoTeamster]

7. Elderly House Republican from FL that practically banned masks and vaccines retires early due to Covid complications

He should make a point of repeating that every chance he gets. DeSantis should never be able to hold a political office again. Nor should of Trump's kids or in-laws.

[Pinback]

11. And an M.D. and a surgeon at that!

Like most Republicans, he chose ideology over science.

[3catwoman3]

13. I used to think that getting into and graduating from med school...

...or law school meant that someone had above average intelligence. Not always, it seems.

[ChicagoTeamster]

14. Cult Member

[ToxMarz]

19. He chose to face off with Karma

and she's a bitch!

[Martin68]

8. The ship is slowly sinking, the rats are leaving.

[Aristus]

12. Okay, Skippy, you can knock off with the 'prayerful' bullshit.

You’re not running for reelection.

[lonely bird]

21. This!

Whenever I hear “after prayerful consideration” come out of a politician’s mouth I need to wash out my brain.

[Aussie105]

16. I admire any man

who realizes he is over the hill and it's time to retire, no matter the implications.

More R people in government need to do this.

The need to dodge the upcoming R disaster is strong in this one!

[IronLionZion]

17. His district contains blue Tallahassee

It's doable. We might be able to take it this year considering our party's surprise upsets in other Trump districts recently. This is a red district containing a blue city, which levels the playing field a bit if our side is motivated for high turnout and the other side is not.

[ShazzieB]

20. Cool!

Last edited Thu Feb 12, 2026, 01:18 PM - Edit history (1)

This is very encouraging!

Right now, I am imagining Mike Johnson sweating bullets over this, and the thought fills me with glee!

[redstatebluegirl]

26. Johnson should start packing his office now.

[James48]

23. If one Republican awakens and becomes a Democrat

But Nah, that would never happen.

[JustAnotherGen]

24. Well it appears

Johnson has Henry Cuellar in his back pocket.

The guy voted for the SAVE Act with the Magapubs.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

27. "an exit that would drag the House Republican majority out the door with him"

[AllaN01Bear]

28. it would be neat if some of them became dems.

[Bluetus]

29. "ongoing complications from Covid"

Let me guess. He was an avid anti-vaxxer and anti-masker. Amiright?

[Scrivener7]

31. Time to get investigators out there and find four or five of them with dodgy finances or

a secret second family or an office affair they don't want the wife to know about.

Does anyone doubt they are out there? It's time for us to use it.