Democrat Donna Deegan flips Florida's largest city in mayoral upset


Donna Deegan, a Democratic former news anchor and charity founder, upset her better-funded Republican opponent Tuesday to become the first female mayor of Jacksonville, Florida's largest city, and the first Democrat to hold the office since 2015. Jacksonville was also the largest U.S. city with a Republican mayor, NBC News reports, a distinction that now falls to Fort Worth, Texas. Deegan beat Daniel Davis, CEO of the local Chamber of Commerce and the favorite to win the race, 52% to 48%. Mayor Lenny Curry (R) could not run again due to term limits.
"We made history tonight," Deegan said at her victory party. "It's a brand new day in Jacksonville."
Davis spent more money on his race than any candidate for local office in Jacksonville history, The Florida Times-Union reports. He and his allies "hit Deegan over her participation in Black Lives Matter protests, and the local sheriff said she would install 'radical policies' if elected," Politico adds, but she called those attacks smears and gained some endorsements from local GOP officials.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Davis, who conceded Tuesday night, was endorsed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla), and local U.S. Rep. John Rutherford (R-Fla.). His loss was also defeat No. 2 for candidates endorsed by DeSantis, The New York Times notes. On Monday night, the Florida governor had made a surprise endorsement in Kentucky's GOP gubernatorial primary, backing former Trump administration U.N. ambassador Kelly Craft over state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the candidate of former President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
"Kelly shares the same vision we do in Florida," DeSantis said in a robocall to GOP voters Monday night. She came in a distant third on Tuesday, 17% to Cameron's 47%. "Let me just say," Cameron said in his victory speech, "the Trump culture of winning is alive and well in Kentucky!" That, the Times explains, was a dig at DeSantis, who has been preparing for a presidential run by urging Republicans to push past their "culture of losing" from the Trump era.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
What to know before turning to AI for financial advice
the explainer It can help you crunch the numbers — but it might also pocket your data
-
Book reviews: 'The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction—and a Search for Relief' and 'Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run'
Feature The search for a headache cure and revisiting Springsteen's 'Born to Run' album on its 50th anniversary
-
Keith McNally' 6 favorite books that have ambitious characters
Feature The London-born restaurateur recommends works by Leo Tolstoy, John le Carré, and more
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda
-
Trump arms National Guard in DC, threatens other cities
speed read His next targets are Chicago, New York and Baltimore
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfully
Speed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by Trump
Speed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank plan
Speed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two