Johnson says he has urged Florida Republican to stay in Congress

Speaker Mike Johnson says he has asked retiring Rep. Neal Dunn to serve out his term amid concerns the Florida Republican might resign early.

An early exit from Dunn, 72, would deal Johnson another massive blow as he tries to maintain his narrow majority. Currently, Republicans can afford to lose no more than one GOP vote on party-line measures, though they are expected to pick up a vote in a March special election.

Senior House Republicans believe he intends to step down in the coming months despite an effort to get him to stay, according to three people granted anonymity to describe the private discussions.

“Neal Dunn is a beloved member of Congress and a great man, and you know, he’s informed us he’s not going to run for reelection,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday. As for what Dunn does beyond that, he added, “I’m not sure — you need to ask him about it. But I’ve encouraged him to stay and be a part of this, and I think he wants to do that.”

Dunn, who represents a heavily Republican seat in northern Florida, declined to discuss his intentions in an interview Wednesday: “No comment,” he said.

Dunn has worn a mask on the House floor at times in recent weeks, and some of his colleagues said they believe his health is a factor in his decision. Asked about those concerns, Dunn replied, “Don’t I look good?”