Donna Deegan, a celebrated former television news presenter and founder of a philanthropic organization supporting breast cancer survivors, seized victory on Tuesday, toppling her Republican adversary, Daniel Davis, in the mayoral race in Jacksonville. In a historic turn of events, Deegan is now the first woman mayor of Jacksonville, a triumph achieved despite her opponent's significant financial advantage and the endorsement he received from the Florida Republican Party and Governor Ron DeSantis.
The triumph of Deegan, who rallied 52 percent of the votes, was met with disbelief by many, as Jacksonville was deemed a tough ground for her campaign. Nevertheless, she and her volunteers persevered for 18 months leading up to the election. Davis, a former legislator and CEO of the local Chamber of Commerce, along with his supporters, criticized Deegan for her involvement in Black Lives Matter demonstrations. The local law enforcement authority suggested that Deegan would introduce "radical policies" if elected. Deegan retorted by describing these attacks as defamatory and positioned herself as a catalyst for change in a city administration historically controlled by Republicans.
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Although Davis ran an intensive campaign, funded significantly more than any other local office campaign in Jacksonville's history, he had to concede defeat. Despite the unexpected outcome, he pledged his support to Deegan and urged his followers to do the same. His campaign had successfully mobilized Republicans to vote, leading to nearly 7,200 more registered Republicans than Democrats casting their ballots in the race. However, Deegan managed to overcome this advantage by winning over independent voters and some Republicans who opted for her.
Deegan's victory has bolstered the morale of the Florida Democrats, especially after the November 2022 elections, where Republicans had a sweeping win across the state. Democrats across Florida expressed their jubilation on social media following Deegan's win. Nikki Fried, the former Agriculture commissioner and current leader of the party, had prioritized the Jacksonville race.
Final voter turnout was 33%, a noticeable increase from the primary turnout of just above 25%. Deegan expressed confidence in achieving significant crossover voting from Republicans and independent voters. In her words, numerous people from across the political spectrum expressed their first-time support for a Democrat, specifically her.
Deegan's historic victory also marks the end of Republican Lenny Curry's term as the mayor of Jacksonville. Curry, who had won the previous two elections, was prohibited from running again due to term limits.
Deegan expressed her excitement about being the city's first female mayor and her intent to bring positive change. She has committed to increasing transparency in the mayor's office, a campaign promise from the start. Emphasizing the necessity of unity beyond partisan lines, Deegan said that it's not about being a Republican or Democrat but about working together for the betterment of the city.
In a historic context, Deegan's win marks a shift in the political dynamics of Jacksonville, a city previously without a female mayor. Her victory serves as a beacon of hope for gender equality in political leadership, not just in Jacksonville, but across Florida.
