Donna Deegan

Donna Deegan
Born	Donna Elizabeth Hazouri 28 2, 1961
Birthplace	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Education	Florida State University (BS)
Spouse(s)	Template:Plainlist
Children	2
Website	[[donnaformayor.com donnaformayor.com] Official site]

Donna Elizabeth Deegan (née Hazouri; born February 28, 1961) is an American politician, former television news anchor, and nonprofit founder serving as the 9th mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, since July 1, 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Deegan made history as the first woman elected to lead Jacksonville, one of the most populous cities in the United States. Before entering politics, she built a prominent career in broadcast journalism over more than two decades as a lead anchor at First Coast News in Jacksonville. A three-time breast cancer survivor, Deegan founded the Donna Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance and support services to individuals living with breast cancer, and created the Donna Marathon, a nationally recognized marathon benefiting breast cancer research and awareness. Deegan's path to the mayor's office followed an unsuccessful campaign for Florida's 4th congressional district in the 2020 election. Her election in 2023 was viewed as a significant shift in Jacksonville politics, as she became the first Democrat to hold the office in more than a decade.

Early Life

Donna Elizabeth Hazouri was born on February 28, 1961, in Jacksonville, Florida. She grew up in a family with deep roots in Jacksonville's civic life and its Arab American community. Her cousin, Tommy Hazouri, served as the mayor of Jacksonville from 1987 to 1991 and later as president of the Jacksonville City Council, establishing a significant political legacy in the city. The Hazouri family's Lebanese heritage placed them within a broader Arab American community that has maintained a notable presence in Jacksonville's civic, business, and cultural spheres for generations.

Deegan grew up on Jacksonville's First Coast, an upbringing that would later inform both her journalism career and her political ambitions. Her familiarity with the city's neighborhoods, institutions, and diverse communities became a defining feature of her public identity. While specific details about her childhood and family life beyond her connection to the Hazouri political family are limited in available sources, her deep ties to Jacksonville have been a consistent element of her public biography, frequently referenced during both her journalism career and her political campaigns.

Education

Deegan attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Her studies at Florida State University prepared her for a career in broadcast journalism, a field she would enter shortly after completing her undergraduate education. Florida State University's College of Communication and Information has produced numerous professionals in the media industry, and Deegan would go on to become one of the university's most recognizable alumni in the Jacksonville media market.

Career

Broadcast Journalism

Deegan's professional career began in broadcast journalism, where she established herself as one of the most recognized television news personalities in the Jacksonville metropolitan area. She joined First Coast News (WTLV/WJXX), the NBC and ABC affiliate stations serving the Jacksonville market, and rose to the position of lead news anchor. Over a career spanning more than two decades in television news, Deegan became a household name in Northeast Florida, delivering news coverage on a wide range of local and national stories.

Her work at First Coast News earned her a reputation for community engagement that extended beyond the anchor desk. Deegan was known for her involvement in local causes and community events, establishing a public profile that transcended traditional journalism. Her visibility as a television anchor gave her a platform that she would later leverage for both her nonprofit work and her political ambitions.

During her time in broadcast journalism, Deegan covered significant stories affecting the Jacksonville community and the broader First Coast region. Her tenure at First Coast News coincided with a period of substantial growth and change in Jacksonville, and her reporting helped shape the public's understanding of local issues.

Deegan's departure from broadcast journalism marked the end of a chapter that had made her one of the most familiar faces in Jacksonville media. Her transition from journalism to activism and, ultimately, to politics followed a trajectory that has been observed among other prominent former journalists who have entered public life.

Breast Cancer Advocacy and Nonprofit Work

A pivotal chapter in Deegan's life began with her diagnosis with breast cancer. She was diagnosed with the disease on three separate occasions, and her experience as a cancer survivor became central to her public identity and her philanthropic work. Rather than retreating from public life, Deegan used her platform and personal experience to become a prominent advocate for breast cancer awareness, research funding, and support services for patients and survivors.

Deegan founded the Donna Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Jacksonville that provides financial assistance and support to individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment. The foundation's mission centers on helping breast cancer patients cover the costs associated with treatment, including medical bills, transportation, and other essential expenses that can create financial hardship for patients and their families. The Donna Foundation has served as a resource for breast cancer patients in the Jacksonville area and beyond, providing direct financial aid and connecting patients with support networks.

In addition to the foundation, Deegan created the Donna Marathon (also known as the DONNA Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer), an annual marathon event held in Jacksonville that raises funds for breast cancer research and patient support services. The marathon became one of the most prominent charitable running events in the Southeastern United States, attracting participants from across the country and generating significant funding for breast cancer causes. The event combined competitive distance running with a mission-driven focus on breast cancer awareness, and it became closely identified with Deegan's personal brand and advocacy efforts.

Her work in breast cancer advocacy also led to recognition in medical and public health circles. Her efforts were noted in clinical oncology publications as an example of patient-driven advocacy that bridges the gap between personal experience and public awareness.

2020 Congressional Campaign

Deegan entered electoral politics for the first time as a candidate for Florida's 4th congressional district in the 2020 election. Running as a Democrat in a district that had historically leaned Republican, Deegan sought to unseat the incumbent or compete for the seat in a challenging political environment for her party.

The 4th congressional district, which encompasses portions of Northeast Florida including parts of the Jacksonville metropolitan area, had been a reliably Republican seat for decades. Deegan's campaign drew on her name recognition from her journalism career and her nonprofit work, but she faced significant structural disadvantages in a district with a strong Republican voter registration advantage.

Deegan ultimately lost the 2020 congressional race, as reflected in the official Florida election results. Despite the defeat, the campaign served as a foundation for her subsequent entry into municipal politics, providing her with experience in political organizing, fundraising, and voter outreach that would prove valuable in her mayoral bid.

2023 Mayoral Campaign

Following her unsuccessful congressional campaign, Deegan turned her attention to the Jacksonville mayoral race in 2023. The seat was open due to term limits preventing incumbent Republican mayor Lenny Curry from seeking re-election. Deegan entered the race as the leading Democratic candidate in a city where Republicans had held the mayor's office for an extended period.

The 2023 Jacksonville mayoral election attracted national attention due to several factors, including the city's status as the most populous city in Florida by land area and one of the largest cities in the United States by population. Deegan's campaign focused on issues including economic development, public safety, infrastructure, and community investment.

The election proceeded to a runoff, as no candidate secured a majority of votes in the initial round of voting. In the runoff election, Deegan prevailed, winning the race and becoming the first woman elected as mayor of Jacksonville. Her victory was reported by national media outlets, with CNN covering the result as part of broader reporting on notable municipal elections across the country.

Deegan's election represented a significant political shift in Jacksonville. As a Democrat succeeding a Republican mayor in a city that had trended conservative in recent election cycles, her victory drew attention from political analysts and commentators interested in the dynamics of urban politics in Florida and the broader South.

Mayoralty

Deegan assumed office as the 9th mayor of Jacksonville on July 1, 2023, succeeding Lenny Curry. As mayor, she oversees the consolidated city-county government of Jacksonville and Duval County, one of the largest consolidated government jurisdictions in the United States.

During her time in office, Deegan has engaged with a range of municipal issues, including the governance and oversight of the JEA, Jacksonville's publicly owned electric, water, and sewer utility. In February 2026, a significant political controversy emerged involving JEA CEO Vickie Cavey. Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico publicly accused Cavey of "racism, toxic corporate culture, and other leadership challenges."

Deegan responded by holding a media conference at City Hall on February 20, 2026, where she defended Cavey and characterized the accusations as a "vile smear campaign." Deegan alleged that the campaign against Cavey was being orchestrated by "politically connected people" associated with former Mayor Lenny Curry's lobbying firm, claiming that Cavey was targeted for declining to extend a contract with the firm.

The dispute escalated into a public clash between Deegan and Curry. Curry denied involvement in any smear campaign and accused Deegan of lying. Action News Jax described the escalating tensions between the current and former mayors as "weird and strange," noting that the JEA controversy had intensified political divisions in Jacksonville. The Florida Times-Union reported that Deegan compared the campaign against Cavey to earlier efforts to sell JEA, a controversial proposal that had generated significant public opposition during Curry's administration.

The JEA controversy highlighted broader dynamics of Deegan's tenure, including her relationship with the Jacksonville City Council and the continuing influence of political networks established during the Curry administration. As of February 2026, the dispute remained unresolved and continued to generate significant media coverage in Jacksonville.

Personal Life

Deegan was born Donna Elizabeth Hazouri and is a member of the Hazouri family, a prominent Jacksonville family with Lebanese American heritage. Her cousin, Tommy Hazouri, served as mayor of Jacksonville from 1987 to 1991 and subsequently served as president of the Jacksonville City Council, making the Hazouri family one of the most politically active families in Jacksonville's modern history.

Deegan has been married twice. She was previously married to Dan Hicken, with whom she has two children; the marriage ended in divorce. She subsequently married Tim Deegan, whose surname she has used professionally and publicly.

A defining aspect of Deegan's personal life has been her experience as a three-time breast cancer survivor. Her cancer diagnoses profoundly influenced her career trajectory, leading her to establish the Donna Foundation and the Donna Marathon, both of which became central to her public identity outside of journalism and politics. Her openness about her cancer experience made her a prominent figure in the breast cancer awareness community and informed her approach to public service and advocacy.

Recognition

Deegan's election as the first female mayor of Jacksonville in 2023 was itself a milestone that received national media coverage. CNN reported on her victory as a notable result in the 2023 election cycle, highlighting both the historic nature of her win and its implications for Democratic politics in Florida.

Her nonprofit work through the Donna Foundation and the Donna Marathon has earned recognition in the breast cancer advocacy community. The Donna Marathon became one of the most prominent charitable marathon events in the Southeastern United States, drawing national participants and media attention to breast cancer causes in Jacksonville.

Deegan's career in broadcast journalism at First Coast News also brought her visibility and recognition within the Jacksonville community over more than two decades, establishing her as one of the most recognized media figures in Northeast Florida.

Her work has been referenced in clinical oncology literature, indicating recognition of her advocacy efforts within the medical community.

Deegan's political career has been tracked by organizations including Ballotpedia and Vote Smart, which maintain records of her campaign positions, election results, and political activities.

Legacy

As the first woman to serve as mayor of Jacksonville, Deegan holds a distinct place in the city's political history. Jacksonville, which operates under a consolidated city-county government encompassing all of Duval County, is one of the largest cities in the United States by both population and land area, making Deegan's barrier-breaking election a milestone of national significance.

Her trajectory from broadcast journalism to nonprofit leadership to elected office represents a career arc that has drawn attention as a model of civic engagement. Deegan's founding of the Donna Foundation and the Donna Marathon established enduring institutions in the Jacksonville community that continue to serve breast cancer patients and raise funds for research, independent of her political career.

The Hazouri family's multigenerational involvement in Jacksonville politics, with Tommy Hazouri having served as mayor decades before Deegan's election, places her tenure in a broader context of family engagement in the city's governance. Their shared heritage within Jacksonville's Arab American community further contributes to the representation of that community in the city's civic life.

Deegan's election as a Democrat in a city and state that had been trending Republican also marked a notable moment in Florida's political landscape. Her victory in the 2023 mayoral runoff demonstrated the potential for Democratic candidates to compete in major Florida municipalities, even as the state's overall political environment had shifted toward the Republican Party in recent election cycles.

As her mayoral tenure continues, Deegan's legacy will be further shaped by her administration's handling of key issues including municipal utility governance, economic development, and the political dynamics of Jacksonville's consolidated government.