A.G. Gancarski
Democrat Jimmy Peluso breezed to victory Tuesday night, showing that perseverance pays off.
Peluso crushed Republican Joseph Hogan, 65% to 35%, with all results in.
Peluso, a Navy veteran and lobbyist for the VyStar Credit Union, ran in the former District 14 in 2019, finishing in third place and missing the runoff. Four years later, he found a remapped District 7 to be more hospitable territory, taking advantage of a Democratic registration edge to cruise to victory.
Though the March election saw Peluso ahead by just 3 points (35% to 32%), May was a new reality.
Peluso had originally filed to run in the former District 14, but the new map gave him a more favorable setup in the district extending from Ortega to Springfield, a map designed to favor Democrats. Democrats comprise 52% of the district’s electorate, while Republicans have just 25%, according to the most recent L2 voter data.
Traditional business interests, including the JAXBIZ political committee affiliated with the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, rallied to Peluso against Hogan, a social conservative and the son of the outgoing Supervisor of Elections who had run for state House before in the district.
Peluso dominated fundraising, meanwhile. He raised more than $216,000, which for perspective was the most raised by any Democrat running for any office by Mayor in the 2023 cycle. Hogan, a grassroots candidate, couldn’t match, raising under $40,000 throughout the race.
Peluso credits his campaign manager Austin Belet for doing an “incredible job” in this race.
