Aura Dunn | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theNew Jersey General Assembly from the25th 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 | (1971-11-15)November 15, 1971 (age 54) |
| 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. | |
Aura Kenny Dunn (born November 15, 1971) is an AmericanRepublican Party politician who has represented the25th Legislative District in theNew Jersey General Assembly since February 3, 2020 and previously from November 25, 2019 until January 14, 2020.[1]
She served in the Assembly as the Assistant Minority Whip.[2]
Dunn earned her bachelor's degree in sociology at theState University of New York at Buffalo and was awarded a graduate degree in public administration fromGeorge Washington University.[2] Dunn also holds a certificate in Mediation.
She was abudget analyst on education policy for theUnited States Senate Committee on Appropriations from 1997 to 2000, and apolicy advisor for theU.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Dunn later was alobbyist for America’s Public Television Stations,Sesame Street andMister Rogers’ Neighborhood and advocated on behalf of these clients to the U.S. Senate. She was the District Director forRep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) from 2016 to his retirement in 2019.[3][4]
Dunn ran for assembly in the 2019 Republican primary losing toAnthony M. Bucco andBrian Bergen.[5]
In September 2019, State SenatorAnthony R. Bucco died. His son AssemblymanAnthony 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 for the2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[2]
Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in theNew Jersey Senate and two members in theNew Jersey General Assembly.[9] The representatives from the 25th District for the2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[10]
| 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 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| 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 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| 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 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| 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' | |||
Dunn lives inMendham 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]