Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan isn’t the most moderate Democrat in Florida, but she also doesn’t come off as the most liberal. Among a party grappling with low approval ratings, Deegan’s polling numbers stand out, showing higher approval than her Republican counterparts.
The latest poll conducted by the University of North Florida (UNF) reveals that the mayor has a 61% approval rating and a 37% disapproval rating, which is only a 2% decline from last year. Michael Binder, a polling expert at UNF, points out that Deegan’s numbers are strong compared to other Democrats. If she decides to run for reelection in 2027, it may be difficult for any Republican challenger to defeat her.
During her 2023 campaign, Republicans portrayed Deegan as a far-leftist associated with the “defund the police” movement. However, after her election, she pursued a different approach. In her first budget, she supported an increase in funding for more police officers on the streets and reached an agreement with the local police union to provide pay increases to law enforcement.
Deegan is considered a big government spender at the local level and holds liberal views on immigration policy. In 2024, she referred to President Trump’s deportation policy as using “concentration camps” for illegal immigrants. Despite this, voters favor Deegan by nearly 20 points over the Republican-led Jacksonville City Council. The UNF poll indicates the city council has an approval rating of 42%, with 53% disapproving—numbers that have declined from a 48% approval rating in May 2024.
Local issues are also contributing to the mayor’s high approval ratings. In 2023, Jacksonville residents identified crime as their top concern (37%). However, this focus has shifted; currently, housing is the primary issue at 25%, followed by crime at 12%, and education, transportation, and infrastructure at 9%. Economic concerns and property taxes account for 8% of respondents, while only 2% see immigration as a top issue.
Regarding the elimination of property taxes, 60% of respondents supported it, while 40% opposed it.
Given Deegan’s high approval ratings, discussions have arisen about her aspirations for higher office. Some consultants suggest she could consider running for Congress, while other Democrats believe she should campaign for Governor in 2026. If she decides to run for reelection in 2027, local Republicans plan to campaign against her due to her approval of hundreds of millions of dollars in new spending.
“There will be a tax increase; I don’t care how she tries to spin it. If she is reelected, property owners and local businesses will face a massive property tax hike because of her reckless spending,” warned Councilman Rory Diamond.
Some of Deegan’s Republican critics have acknowledged that she has navigated issues carefully, avoiding the more contentious topics that often embroil other Democrats.
In the meantime, Florida Democrats have found a bright spot in Deegan’s high and consistent approval ratings. “This is a fairly strong showing considering the ongoing anti-incumbent mood in the country, the significantly lower approval ratings of the City Council, and Jacksonville’s relatively low Democratic Party identification compared to other major cities nationwide,” stated UNF political science professor Sean Freeder.
