Former Rep. Dunn dies

Former Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.) passed away Tuesday, according to a release from her family. She was 66.

{mosads}Dunn, who represented Washington’s 8th congressional district, suffered a pulmonary embolism at her Alexandria home and never regained consciousness, the family said.

Dunn was elected to Congress in 1992 and quickly was designated a rising star.

Upon her arrival she became the first female freshman to serve in leadership and went on to be elected vice chairwoman of the Republican Conference.

Dunn retired from Congress in 2004 but remained politically active. Most recently, she served as the national co-chairwoman of Women for Mitt Romney.

She is survived by her husband, Keith Thomson; their sons, Bryant Dunn, Reagan Dunn and Angus Thomson; and two grandchildren.