Aura Kenny Dunn (born November 15, 1971) is an American Republican Party politician who has represented the 25th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since February 3, 2020 and previously from November 25, 2019 until January 14, 2020.[1]
Aura Dunn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 25th district | |
| Assumed office February 3, 2020 Serving with Brian Bergen | |
| Preceded by | Vacant* |
| In office November 21, 2019 – January 14, 2020 Serving with Michael Patrick Carroll | |
| Preceded by | Anthony M. Bucco |
| Succeeded by | Vacant* |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 15, 1971 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Mendham Borough |
| Education | University at Buffalo (BA) George Washington University (MBA) |
| Website | Legislative webpage |
| *Anthony M. Bucco was elected, but declined to take the seat to stay in the state senate. | |
She served in the Assembly as the Assistant Minority Whip.[2]
Education and early career
editDunn earned her bachelor's degree in sociology at the State University of New York at Buffalo and was awarded a graduate degree in public administration from George Washington University.[2] Dunn also holds a certificate in Mediation.
She was a budget analyst on education policy for the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee from 1997 to 2000, and a policy advisor for the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Dunn later was a lobbyist for America’s Public Television Stations, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and advocated on behalf of these clients to the U.S. Senate. She was the District Director for Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) from 2016 to his retirement in 2019.[3][4]
New Jersey Assembly
editDunn ran for assembly in the 2019 Republican primary losing to Anthony M. Bucco and Brian Bergen.[5]
In September 2019, State Senator Anthony R. Bucco died. His son Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco was appointed to the Senate seat. Dunn then won a special election convention for Bucco's Assembly seat. She was sworn in on November 25, 2019, serving only until the end of the legislative session on January 14, 2020.[6] After his Senate appointment, Bucco's name was still on the ballot for his Assembly seat, and he won re-election to the Assembly.[7] Dunn was selected in another special convention for that seat on February 1, 2020, was sworn in again on February 3, 2020, and won the subsequent November 2020 special election for the seat. [8]
Committee assignments
editCommittee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[2]
- Budget
- Children, Families and Food Security
25th District
editEach of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.[9] The representatives from the 25th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[10]
- Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R)
- Assemblyman Christian Barranco (R)
- Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn (R)
Electoral history
editNew Jersey Assembly
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Aura K. Dunn (incumbent) | 26,717 | 26.4 | |
| Republican | Christian E. Barranco (incumbent) | 25,988 | 25.7 | |
| Democratic | Diane Salvatore | 24,055 | 23.8 | |
| Democratic | Jonathan Torres | 24,420 | 24.1 | |
| Total votes | 101,180 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Aura K. Dunn (incumbent) | 42,183 | 28.25% | |
| Republican | Brian Bergen (incumbent) | 41,584 | 27.85% | |
| Democratic | Lauren Barnett | 33,322 | 22.31% | |
| Democratic | Patricia L. Veres | 32,243 | 21.59% | |
| Total votes | 149,332 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Aura K. Dunn (incumbent) | 64,469 | 52.5% | |
| Democratic | Darcy Draeger | 58,446 | 47.5% | |
| Total votes | 122,915 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Aura K. Dunn | 133 | 74% | N/A | |
| Republican | John M. Barabula | 24 | 13% | N/A | |
| Republican | Sarah Neibart | 13 | 7% | N/A | |
| Republican | Alison Deeb | 5 | 2% | N/A | |
| Republican | Al Reibero | 4 | 2% | N/A | |
| Total votes | '179' | '100.0' | |||
Personal life
editDunn lives in Mendham Borough with her husband and their three children.
Dunn served on the boards of Morris Habitat for Humanity and Morris County Mental Health Addictions Services. She volunteers as a JBWS-certified domestic violence crisis response team member for local police departments. Since 2010, her family has hosted a New York City child each summer through the Fresh Air Fund program.[14]
References
edit- ^ Pizarro, Max. "Dunn Sworn into the Assembly", Insider NJ, November 25, 2019. Accessed November 25, 2019. She was sworn back into office on February 3, 2020. "Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) this afternoon administered the office to Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-25), who last week at a special convention formally landed the seat left behind by Senator Tony Bucco (R-25)."
- ^ a b c Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn (R), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 23, 2024.
- ^ "Lobbying Firm Profile: Aura Kenny Dunn Government Relations". OpenSecrets. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Assemblywoman Aura Dunn". NJ Assembly GOP. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Bergen, Bucco win in LD25". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ "Aura Dunn wins big for Bucco Assembly seat". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ November 5, 2019 General Election Official Results, Morris County Clerk, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed November 23, 2019.
- ^ Westhoven, William. "Bucco, Dunn declare victory, opponents concede in Morris legislature races". Daily Record. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed May 1, 2022.
- ^ Legislative Roster for District 25, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 23, 2024.
- ^ "Candidates for General Assembly - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/02/2021 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/03/2020 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ^ "Meet Aura". Aura Dunn for Assembly. Retrieved December 4, 2022.