A.G. Gancarski
Democrat Donna Deegan knows she faces long odds in her bid to flip Florida’s 4th Congressional District from red to blue.
A Monday campaign appearance saw her just outside of her district, at Edward Waters College for a “meet and greet.”
Deegan, should she win the primary in 2020, will face well-known incumbent U.S. Rep. John Rutherford in the General Election.
GOP voters comprise 286,013 of the district’s 577,173 registered voters, compared to 155,073 Democrats, with independents and third-party registrants making up the balance.
Deegan, contrary to what some might think, is acutely aware of the partisan makeup of the district. But she is undeterred, Deegan told a crowd of about 50 Monday night.
The operation has been local thus far. Her campaign manager, Erica Connor, is an attorney who has never run a campaign before, except for her own successful bid for the St. Johns County Soil and Water Board.
National operations, such as the DCCC, have yet to come calling. For other candidates, this may be more of a problem than it has been for Deegan, known well in Northeast Florida for her television journalism, for surviving cancer three times and starting a foundation and a marathon to raise money for the cure.
Republican women have reached out; they are “frustrated with the ugliness” of the President Donald Trump era, Deegan says.
Deegan has also been driven by that, appalled by the “deceit” of the current President. That inspired her into political activism in recent years, she said.
Indeed, famous for her “truth tests” on political ads when anchoring First Coast News, Deegan says she has “no problem speaking truth to power.”
However, those expecting that to correlate to radical policy proposals will be disappointed.
On health care, for example, she takes a middle road by Democratic standards, seeing the Affordable Care Act as able to be improved, as a bridge perhaps to some form of universal health care.
On climate change, she advocates resiliency, a contrast to an incumbent “who thinks [climate change] is a hoax.”
On guns, Deegan invokes “women who are afraid to send their kids to school,” advocating for universal background checks … something she notes Rutherford once backed.
But nothing approaching confiscation, even as some will parse her call to get “weapons of war off of our streets.”
Elections, meanwhile, should be publicly financed.
Deegan notes that “corporate PAC money” is funding Rutherford’s operation.
In the third quarter of 2019, Rutherford reported just over $70,000 raised, giving him $228,900 raised for the election cycle, and $443,376 on hand.
The vast majority of the funds raised in the quarter came from corporate political action committees, or PACs.
Looking around the room at Edward Waters, Deegan told those on hand that she’d “take this any day.”
Deegan raised $85,000 in her first day of fundraising, though she hasn’t trumpeted numbers since that media release dropped.
Florida’s 4th Congressional District includes Nassau County, a gerrymandered chunk of Duval, and northern St. Johns County. It has been Republican since maps drawn after the 1990 census.
The district evolved from what was Blue Dog Democrat U.S. Rep. Charlie Bennett‘s fiefdom for decades, with Republican Reps. Tillie Fowler and Ander Crenshaw combining to serve nearly a quarter-century before Crenshaw retired in 2016.
13 comments
Seber Newsome III
November 26, 2019 at 7:35 am
Deegan is a far left socialist liberal. She back George Soros backed Adrew Gillum or Governor. She wants to take away guns. She will lose very badly!!!!! Run Donna Run
Hilton Theodore Meadows
November 30, 2019 at 9:27 pm
I am ignorant of the definition of a “social liberal” and conversely of a “conservative”. These characterizations only serve negative purposes which imply something ecclesiastical without definition nor qualification except by imaginary implication. Why aren’t we all respectful of each other whether democrat or republican. Admittedly, I loathe the PACs and persons like Soros who intend to thwart election outcomes. Big spenders intend to buy proprietary influence.
Frankie M.
November 26, 2019 at 9:48 am
I like her because Seber doesn’t. Plus Rutherford is scared to debate her. That’s good enough for me… lol.
Amy Roberts
November 26, 2019 at 7:55 pm
Donna will work for her constituents. She has my support!
Seber Newsome III
November 27, 2019 at 3:54 am
Donna will work for the far left liberals who want government to control your lives. That is a socialist. Geoge Soros will probably back her campaign, just like he did Andrew Gillum for Governor, and Donna supported Gillum.
Harold Finch
November 28, 2019 at 8:04 pm
She is an extreme liberal, supported Gillum for Governor and is completely out of touch! She better stick to helping ole Tim get to those AA meetings and not chasing the skirts!! lol!!!
Karen
November 30, 2019 at 5:55 am
Her only claim to fame is that of a cheating wife and cancer! Deegan is a liar like all the rest of her dim witted party friends.
Congressman Rutherford will chew her up and spit her out on the debate stage!
Hilton Theodore Meadows
November 30, 2019 at 9:09 pm
Vicious, deprecating, and demeaning which is a smear tactic by calling someone scandalous names. Immoral acts have no place in an election for an office that best serves the public.
John Baxter
November 30, 2019 at 8:03 am
Not even a remote chance of voting for her. I have had enough of liberal Democrats.
Ginger
November 30, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Agree
Donna Ann
December 1, 2019 at 11:24 am
“Republican women have reached out; they are “frustrated with the ugliness” of the President Donald Trump era, Deegan says.”
I don’t know a single republican woman who doesn’t LOVE President Trump, to include myself. This is just more democratic hallucinations. Keep Florida RED!!!!
Nunya Bidness
December 1, 2019 at 1:36 pm
Oh, she’s “appalled” by the President’s deceit, is she?
Well I’m “appalled” by her infidelity to Dan while servicing Tim out in the parking lot.
Good luck pushing your flaming liberal agenda up in here!
Seber Newsome III
December 4, 2019 at 10:46 am
Wow, I did not know the stories about Donna cheating on Dan? Donna, I am sure you are reading this, can you please respond to these accusations, are they true??
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