U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn is throwing his support behind Tricia Berry in her bid for Florida House District 6. Dunn, a physician by trade, is a staple in Florida Panhandle politics, though he is not seeking re-election to his current seat in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District.
Announcing his support on social media, Dunn said Berry is the right candidate for the seat, which represents all of coastal Bay County including Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, and Mexico Beach.
“Tricia Berry is a tried and true conservative leader that Bay County can trust to represent their values in the halls of our state Capitol,” Dunn said on X. “Tricia will work tirelessly to serve the people of Bay County in the Florida House of Representatives and has my full support.”
Dunn himself is retiring from his congressional seat. He’s been in the U.S. House for a decade, representing a district that stretches from the Panhandle well into Florida’s Big Bend area. When Dunn announced his retirement, he drew praise for being “a true patriot” from both Democratic and Republican members of Florida’s Congressional Delegation.
Berry is running to replace Griff Griffitts, who is not seeking re-election. The Panama City Beach Republican has held the seat since 2022 when he replaced fellow Republican Jay Trumbull who left due to term limits. Both Griffits and Trumbull have also endorsed Berry.
Berry, a former nurse practitioner appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Gulf Coast State College Board of Trustees, has logged more than 15 years in Panama City civic life through groups including the Boys and Girls Club of Bay County, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, and the Life Management of NW Florida Foundation Board.
As of Monday, Berry was the only Republican to file to run in HD 6. Democrats Stephanie Lyn Leonard, David Richardson and Jerry Wyche are also seeking the seat.
Qualifying for the race ends this Friday.
