Florida: blow to DeSantis as Democrat wins Jacksonville mayor’s race

Donna Deegan becomes city's first female mayor by beating Daniel Davis, Republican backed by hard-right governor

In a major electoral upset on Tuesday, voters in Jacksonville elected their first female mayor, defeating a Republican backed by business leaders and endorsed by Ron DeSantis, the state governor and prospective presidential candidate.

Jacksonville is the most populous Florida city, with about 950,000 residents. Donna Deegan, a Democrat, earned 52% of the vote, beating Daniel Davis. About 217,000 people voted, a turnout of 33%.