The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) announced today it is filing a formal complaint with the Florida Elections Commission against Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan for allegedly breaking state election laws over a re-election launch video released this month.
According to the RPOF, the complaint accuses Deegan's campaign of violating Chapter 106 of the Florida Statutes by accepting "in-kind contributions, making expenditures, and/or authorizing campaign expenditures" before legally opening a campaign account, as well as approving expenditures without adequate funds to deposit into a campaign fund related to her reelection launch.
Specifically, the complaint questions the campaign's release of a well-done video showing "staged footage" of Deegan in her downtown office with testimonials, edited news clips, and several filming locations in Jacksonville within hours of her new bid.
The video was released on April 16, 2026, the same day Deegan filed for reelection.
Under Florida law, a candidate is obligated to file campaign paperwork and open a campaign account before making or approving any campaign expenses.
“Donna Deegan started her re-election campaign the same way she’s failed to lead Jacksonville – lawless, reckless, and completely out of touch,” Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power said.
“For Donna Deegan, this is a pattern,” Power continued. “Whether it’s keeping a gun registry, undermining immigration enforcement, or now ignoring election law, she has repeatedly treated the law as optional. Meanwhile, Jacksonville families are paying the price — with a bloated city budget, rising property taxes, doubled garbage fees, and rising utility rates.”
Deegan, a Democrat, became Jacksonville's mayor in 2023. Her re-election run for 2027 is already under the microscope.
"Based on the timing, she or someone authorized on behalf of her campaign either accepted an in-kind contribution before they were legally allowed to, spent money before they were legally allowed to, or approved a high-end campaign video to be produced knowing it would require payment without having her campaign account open and campaign funds in the bank. Either way – it’s a violation of Florida law," the RPOF wrote.
