Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is officially going for a second term. In a Thursday announcement, she said the work her administration has begun is “just getting started” and framed her reelection pitch around a big-tent vision for the city.
“I’m running because I believe in a simple idea: we can build a Jacksonville that works for everyone,” Deegan said in a campaign news release announcing her bid.
Deegan frames her bid around listening and local outreach
According to Action News Jax, Deegan’s reelection campaign became official with a news release on Thursday. The statement leans heavily on her town halls and community meetings, which the mayor says have helped drive her administration’s priorities and set the stakes for a second term.
How she got here
Deegan made history in 2023 as the first woman elected mayor of Jacksonville and was sworn into office on July 1, 2023, according to the City of Jacksonville. A Democrat and former local television anchor, she defeated Republican Daniel Davis in the May 16, 2023 runoff, winning roughly 52% of the vote, per Wikipedia.
Local priorities she'll run on
In office, Deegan’s team has emphasized neighborhood-focused projects and economic investments, including work surrounding the Eastside grants committee that is tied to the Jaguars’ community benefits agreement. The committee, along with Deegan’s first nominations to it, was detailed by the Jax Daily Record.
What's next
Deegan’s announcement sets the stage for the 2027 mayoral calendar. The primary is scheduled for March 23, 2027, with the general election on May 18, 2027, according to Wikipedia. In the coming months, expect the early phase of her formal campaign to center on fundraising, building out staff and ramping up neighborhood outreach as she assembles a full re-election operation.
