Dawn Buckingham (February 21, 1968) is an American physician and politician who has served as Land Commissioner of Texas since 2023. She was elected in November 2022 and sworn in on January 10, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, she served as a state Senator from 2017 to 2023. She worked as a surgeon before being elected Land Commissioner. She is the first woman in Texas history to serve as Land Commissioner.[1]
The district stretches from the Austin suburbs in Travis County, West to Texas Hill Country, and North to Abilene covering roughly 20,000 square miles of territory.[4] Buckingham was one of six candidates in the Republican primary to replace retiring state senator Troy Fraser.[5] Buckingham portrayed herself as a political outsider and was endorsed by former governor Rick Perry.[6] In the March 1, 2016, primary she received 25% of the vote, with state representative Susan King of Abilene receiving 27% of the vote.[7] Because neither candidate received a majority, they advanced to a runoff election in May. After a contentious campaign focusing on the records and geographic profiles of the two candidates,[4] Buckingham won the runoff with over 60% of the vote.[8]
In the November general election, Buckingham faced Democratic nominee Virginia "Jennie Lou" Leeder of Llano. Buckingham won with over 70% of the vote.[9]
On June 6, 2021, Buckingham announced a run for Texas Land Commissioner in 2022.[11] She became the Republican nominee after winning the May 24, 2022, runoff.
Tenure
Buckingham assumed office on January 10, 2023.
On March 7, 2023, a guest lecture by Texas A&M professor Joy Alonzo at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) was allegedly critical of Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's administration's response to the opioid crisis. Buckingham's daughter attended the lecture, and shortly afterwards, Buckingham called Patrick to relay Alonzo's comments.[12] Buckingham's run for Land Commissioner had been endorsed by Patrick the previous year, and they had served six years together in the Texas Senate.[13] Buckingham then also called Texas A&M's vice chancellor for governmental relations to relay the same information. Within a few hours of the lecture ending, UTMB emailed a notice of formal censure of Alonzo to all lecture attendees. A subsequent investigation and consideration of termination of Alonzo by Texas A&M was started. The investigation was ultimately closed two weeks later and found no evidence of wrongdoing.[12]
Following the re-election of President Donald J. Trump in November 2024, Buckingham pledged to help his new administration with deportation of illegal immigrants by donating land owned by the State of Texas. [14][15]
Personal life
Buckingham is married to Ed Buckingham; they are both practicing physicians, herself as an oculoplastic surgeon.[16] Buckingham is a Christian.[17] The Buckinghams have a son and a daughter.[12] Their son, Dalton, played college baseball at Sewanee as an undergrad, then transferred to Texas State as a graduate student to complete his baseball career and earn an M.B.A.[18][19][20]
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