Aubrey Dunn Jr.


Aubrey Dunn Jr. is an American politician and banker from the state of New Mexico. He had served as New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands from 2015 to 2019, and was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in the 2018 election. Elected as a Republican, Dunn switched parties to Libertarian in January 2018, making him the first Libertarian holder of a statewide elected office in the United States.

Career

Dunn was born in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He graduated from Colorado State University, receiving a bachelor's degree in animal science. Prior to serving as the Commissioner of Public Lands, he worked for 25 years in the banking industry including 10 years as CEO and President of First Federal Bank of New Mexico. In 2008, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in. He lost in the Republican primary to Edward R. Tinsley who went on to lose the general election to Harry Teague.
Dunn was elected as New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands in the 2014 elections as the Republican nominee. In January 2018, he left the Republican Party and switched his voter registration to Libertarian. Dunn announced his candidacy as a Libertarian for U.S. Senate in early 2018. He withdrew in July, stating that he was leaving the race because he needed to concentrate his time and effort on his duties as land commissioner. He was replaced on the ballot by former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson.

Personal life

Dunn Jr. is the son of late New Mexico state senator, Aubrey Dunn Sr., who served in the legislature from 1965 until 1980 as a Democrat. He is married and has 3 children.