Profile: Rep. Jennifer Dunn

By
ABC News
January 6, 2006, 6:06 PM ET
2 min read

— -- Having served just a short time in Congress, Rep. Jennifer Dunn has nevertheless made history on Capitol Hill, becoming the first woman — Republican or Democrat — to run for a top leadership post.

Dunn, a four-term congresswoman from the state of Washington, ran for the position of House Majority Leader in 1998, eventually losing out with “no regrets” to Rep. Dick Armey of Texas. The House Majority Leader ranks behind only speaker in the congressional hierarchy, and is responsible for managing votes and scheduling.

Previously, Dunn became just the fifth woman in history to land a coveted position on the House Ways and Means Committee. More impressive, she was awarded the post at the start of just her second term in Washington, after the GOP wrested control of the House from the Democrats in the 1994 election.

Along with Rep. Steve Largent, Dunn delivered the Republican response to President Clinton’s 1999 State of the Union address, referring to the ongoing impeachment proceedings by saying, “The spirit of the nation could easily withstand one man’s actions.”

Currently, Dunn is a co-chair of Victory 2000, the Republican National Committee’s effort to elect Bush to the White House, and sits on the Presidential Commission on Debates, which will establish rules for this year’s forums.

Low-Tax, High-Tech Outlook

Dunn was born in Seattle in 1941 and grew up in nearby Bellevue, Wash. She worked as an engineer for IBM in the 1960s, and eventually became Washington State Republican Party Chair from 1981. Dunn held the position until 1992, when she ran for the then-open 8th District seat, covering an area east of Seattle, and won easily. Dunn remains a popular congresswoman with a seemingly safe seat.

Dunn has consistently called for across-the-board tax cuts, and has also tried to take the lead in developing Republicans programs she describes as “women-friendly,” including those encouraging small-business development.

Representing a district famous for its high-tech business, Dunn has been a staunch critic of the Justice Department during its ongoing antitrust battle against Microsoft, saying she is “fearful of government attempts to regulate this dynamic and competitive industry.”