Meet Aura
Aura Dunn was appointed to fill the Assembly seat vacated by now-Senator Anthony Bucco in 2019, and a year later won the special election in the 25th Legislative District.
She joined the Assembly after a 25-year career in government and public affairs. She was the District Director for 12-term Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen from 2016 to 2019, 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. She also lobbied for America’s Public Television Stations, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
One of Dunn’s proudest accomplishments from her time on Capitol Hill was her work on the Campus Crime Disclosure Act, better known as the Clery Act. The landmark legislation requires colleges and universities to issue on-campus crime statistics and security information.
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.
Dunn's childhood in Brooklyn, NY inspired her career of service. Aura was raised in Brooklyn by her father, a Purple Heart Marine and a veteran of the Battle of Khe Sahn, the deadliest of the Vietnam War. As the oldest child in a single parent household, she shouldered the many household responsibilities. Her experiences from childhood made her a protector, helper, hard worker, and a believer in the American Dream.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a master’s degree in public administration from George Washington University. Dunn also holds a certificate in mediation.
She lives in Mendham with her husband and their three children.
In 2020 Assemblywoman Dunn made history by becoming the highest vote getter in the NJ State Assembly, exceeding the previous record by over 10,000 votes.
In just under two years, Dunn has already made her reputation as an effective bipartisan legislator, sponsoring 29 bills that were signed into law.
A Record of Accomplishment
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Developed national public service campaigns for Military Families and Emergency Preparedness
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Led negotiations for the Joint Senate-FCC Task Force on Childhood Obesity and Media
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Authored landmark campus crime disclosure legislation
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Established the foundation for the Wounded Warrior Jobs Program
Experienced Professional
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Current New Jersey Assemblywoman for the 25th District, which includes parts of Morris & Somerset Counties
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Former District Director for a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
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Former Senior Government Affairs Executive for Mr. Rogers Neighborhood & Sesame Street
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Former budget analyst to U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee
Civic & Community Leader
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Morris Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors
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Certified Domestic Violence Crisis Response Team Member
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Mental Health Addictions Services Advisory Board of Morris County
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Fresh Air Fund Host Family, 9 years
Why I'm Running
Like all of us, I fill many roles. I am a mother, wife, daughter, employee, and community volunteer. But, WHO I am and WHY I am running for Assembly is more important.
I am a first-generation college graduate and homeowner. I was raised by a Purple Heart Marine who fought in the Battle of Khe Sahn, the deadliest of the Vietnam War. My father taught me to always stand up for what you believe in. When times got tough, and they did, my mother worked as a Construction Apprentice, often the only woman on site. As the oldest child in a single parent home, I was responsible for getting my siblings off to school each morning.
These challenges made me a protector, helper, hard worker and -- Believer! A believer in the American Dream. Never before have I seen that dream and the traditions and values that built this country and the hometowns we hold so dear, in such jeopardy. For this reason, I am running for office and I hope you will elect me, a first-generation candidate.
As your Assemblywoman,
I am and will be relentless
about bringing economic
and fiscal security to our
families.
With a 25 year career in public policy, I am sick and tired of obstructionist politics and know what it will take to bring sanity back to the New Jersey Statehouse.
