JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) traveled nearly 1,000 miles to help push the Duval Democrats across the finish line in Tuesday’s runoff election in Jacksonville.
“Hey Duval, this is Cory Booker. I am the senator from New Jersey but I’m in Florida,” Booker began. “Why? Because your elections are so important and I need you to vote.”
🔔 ELECTION ALERT: JAX City Elections are happening right now. Early Voting will just take 5 minutes at one of Duval County’s 19 Early Voting sites.
— Duval County Democratic Party (@DuvalDEC) May 13, 2023
To find your nearest Early Voting site, go to https://t.co/JBr9i6CKRf! Make your voice heard today. pic.twitter.com/d2uILPwera
Democrats are hoping to regain power in one of Florida’s largest cities after suffering major losses across the state in 2020 and 2022.
Although Booker did not call out any candidates by name, Donna Deegan’s mayoral bid headlines the race for Democrats.
Deegan – a longtime broadcast journalist who founded and leads a non-profit fighting breast cancer – claimed 40 percent of the overall vote in a crowded field on March 21, but faces a tougher task in defeating Daniel Davis head-to-head on Tuesday. Davis has served as President and CEO of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce since 2013.
Unlike most cities in Florida, Jacksonville operates under a strong-mayor form of government, in which the mayor functions as the city's chief executive and administrative officer.
If elected, Deegan would propose budgets, hand pick the city departments heads and hold veto power over all resolutions and ordinances passed by the 19-member city council.
The Duval Democrats are also hoping to claim the office of property appraiser and fill six city council vacancies on Tuesday.
