A.G. Gancarski
Former President Donald Trump is weighing in on the Jacksonville mayoral race, which saw a Democrat win just months after Republicans carried the state handily.
On Truth Social, Trump said Republican Daniel Davis’ “shocker” loss to Democrat Donna Deegan came down to Team Davis courting Ron DeSantis’ endorsement instead of that of the former President.
“In a big upset, the DeSanctimonious backed Republican candidate for Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, LOST. This is a shocker. If they would have asked me to Endorse, he would have won, easily. Too proud to do so,” Trump said.
“Fools! This is a BIG LOSS for the Republican Party,” Trump added. “Remember, ‘Rob’ only won because of me!!!”
In a follow-up post, Trump doubled down.
“Ron’s magic is GONE! He also lost, shockingly, in Jacksonville last night (Mayor).”
A top political operation official from DeSantis’ camp frames it differently, asserting that Duval continues to be a swing county and the top of the ticket makes a significant difference. DeSantis World noted that the Governor flipped Duval in his re-election, and argued having leaders like DeSantis at the top is a critical factor for victory.
DeSantis endorsed Davis after the First Election in March, which saw Davis rebuff three other Republican candidates to emerge into the General Election with roughly a quarter of the vote, 15 points behind first-place Deegan.
Jacksonville has a voter registration advantage for Democrats, with 40% of the electorate registered Democrat and just 35% Republican, according to the most recent L2 voter data. But Republicans, as typically happens in local elections, won the turnout battle Tuesday, with a 7,100-vote advantage translating to an R+3.25 map.
Yet despite the GOP turnout advantage, it was clear that crossover Republicans and no-party voters turned out for Deegan, with the DeSantis endorsement apparently not being a factor to unify the party. Word was that the DeSantis endorsement was contingent on Davis not chasing Trump’s backing, in yet another sign of Republicans being compelled to pick sides.
DeSantis offered paper endorsements, but never came to Jacksonville to help the candidates he backed. Nor did he offer a robocall or other material support.
Davis wasn’t the only DeSantis-endorsed loser Tuesday.
Property Appraiser candidate Jason Fischer touted his DeSantis endorsement ahead of the March election, which gave him a ticket to the May runoff. But he lost to Democrat Joyce Morgan.
9 comments
PeterH
May 17, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Jacksonville is a Democratic stronghold.
Both Trump and DeSantis endorsements failed in Jacksonville and Kentucky. Factually speaking Donald Trump lost 40 of his endorsed candidates since 2017. Both DeSantis and Trump are toxic.
Dont Say FLA
May 18, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Jacksonville had Republic mayors for 50+ years. Hardly a Democratic stronghold. More registered GOP votes were cast than were register Dem votes. Some registered GOP voters chose Deegan, as did independents. Everybody sick and tired of GOP politics & nonsense. Nobody believes drag queens harm children but bullets don’t.
Dont Say FLA
May 17, 2023 at 12:07 pm
Nah it’s not Rhonda. It’s MAGA. Only the core MAGAs are still fooled by that MAGA nonsense. Everybody else finally saw on January 6th what the MAGAs were really up to. Rhonda won’t say his name, Trump’s name, but Rhonda is a MAGA just like TRump and it’s both their faults the GOP is flushing down the gender-at-birth appropriate toilet even though babies (and Trump) use diapers.
Earl Pitts American
May 17, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Good afternoon America,
Wrong Don:
Its not Ron’s fault as much as its not Don’s fault. Its the fault of the local Duval Republican Party political machine.
I, Earl Pitts American, told them that in order to compete on a level playing field and win they would need to ditch the dude and get their own cute hot mlIf to run and win against Deegan.
Would have won if they had ditched the dude like I, Earl Pitts American, told them to…..sigh…..the whole world would be such a more perfect place if everyone would listen to me, Earl Pitts American.
Thank you America,
Earl Pitts American
Bingo Dingo
May 17, 2023 at 7:22 pm
Bozo Repugs -worthless!
There is no opposition party
May 17, 2023 at 8:33 pm
TARDS! Also lost Colorado Springs mayoralty, majorly. Can’t blame that on RDS.
Current R party under Trump is party of W H I T E N * * G G E R suburban losers dying off daily, being replaced by infinite third worlders storming border, can’t hold or win any city in this country, how the F are you going to do sh!t in ’24? Entire party apparatus needs to be burnt to the ground and replaced.
MH/Duuuval
May 18, 2023 at 12:16 am
Joyce Morgan, who’s an African American woman and former city council member, beat handily Jason Fischer, white former school board member and Florida House member. In many ways this is even more satisfying win than Deegan’s — especially if you list to the left.
Mike Bregg
May 18, 2023 at 10:52 am
Does anyone remember Ron DeSantis’ campaign promise to serve a full term, if re-elected? …. I , very well, do.
Republicans are imploding in Florida, as the entire State legislative body changed the laws allowing him to break that promise.
Why would anyone support a party who is becoming more like the opposition by just explaining away their shortcomings?
Jacksonville falling into the hands of a demonic leadership is just another symptom of what is to continue if Republicans don’t take a real hard look inward.
Dont Say FLA
May 18, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Demonic? I hope that was a typo or mis-autocorrect.
Comments are closed.