Commissioner Buckingham’s family were among the first settlers to Texas seven generations ago, and that tough, independent, pioneer spirit is deeply rooted in her personality. True to her Texas roots, her commitment to service began early, serving as a volunteer firefighter, and attending the Texas A&M Fire School. She is also an avid hunter, outdoorswoman, and steward of the land. She made history in 2016 as the first woman elected to the Texas State Senate from Travis County. Without slowing down, she made history again in 2022 when elected as the 29th, and state’s first female Commissioner of the General Land Office, Texas’ oldest state agency.

Dawn came from humble roots—growing up on a ranch near the Texas coast and then moving to Central Texas. She has never settled for less than her dreams. She lived at home, working two jobs to pay her own way through college at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating Magna Cum Laude and debt-free.
It was during college that she met the love of her life and husband of 31 years, Ed Buckingham. Dawn and Ed both received their medical degrees from the UT Medical Branch at Galveston. They have two children. Dawn became a successful Oculoplastic Surgeon. Her commitment to service and recognition for her work has allowed her to hold leadership positions in local, state, and national medical organizations.

Dawn has risen above her circumstances, becoming a self-made small business owner employing Texans, serving others in her profession and as an elected official. She has always given back to her community.
As your Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham brings a lifetime of experience to the office. She is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin is the president of the American Action Forum. Holtz-Eakin has an esteemed record as a researcher and policy adviser. During 1989–90, he was senior economist for the Council of Economic Advisers, where he subsequently served as chief economist in 2001–02. He was the sixth director of the Congressional Budget Office from 2003–05, and then became director of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies and the Paul A. Volcker Chair in international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. During 2007–08, he was director of domestic and economic policy for the John McCain presidential campaign. Holtz-Eakin was a commissioner on the congressionally chartered Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, serves on the boards of the Tax Foundation and National Academy of Social Insurance, and is a member of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group. He taught at Columbia University in 1985, and at Syracuse University from 1990–2001. Holtz-Eakin received a BA in economics and mathematics from Denison University, and a PhD in economics from Princeton University.

Whether it's through his podcast, This American President, his appearances on the Stacy on the Right radio show, or writing for the Heritage Foundation's Daily Signal, Richard Lim loves talking about U.S. history and the lessons it offers for our nation's current issues. This passion also led him to serve at the White House and George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and to discuss history during his multiple appearance on the Global Voice Hall's Washington Weekly YouTube show. He has a master's degree from Syracuse University and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego.