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Some good news from the US: Democrat Donna Deegan has caused a major upset by beating Ron DeSantis backed Republican, Daniel Davis (who significantly outspent her) to win the mayor’s race in Jacksonville, Florida, becoming the first female mayor in Jacksonville history. 
Her opponent had the backing of the Republican Party of Florida & the endorsement of Gov. Ron DeSantis.“Everybody said it could not be done in Jacksonville,” said Deegan, who said the campaign and its volunteers had worked for a year and a half ahead of the election.
Davis — a former legislator & CEO of the local Chamber of Commerce — & his allies strongly criticised Deegan over her participation in #BlackLivesMatter protests, & the local sheriff said she would install “radical policies” if elected.
Deegan pushed back by calling the attacks smears & billed herself as a candidate who would change a city government that had been dominated by Republicans. Deegan was also able to score some Republican endorsements ahead of Election Day.
Deegan’s victory gives Florida Democrats a boost just months after the November 2022 elections in which the unhinged anti-abortion culture war authoritarian nutjob Ron DeSantis won his re-election victory by nearly 20 points, & Republicans crushed Democrats across the state.
At the time of Deegan's mayoral victory, Jacksonville was the most populous US city with a Republican mayor. Jacksonville had trended towards the Democrats over the preceding years; in 2020, Biden became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win the county since 1976.
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