Election 2023: Your voter guide to Jacksonville's mayoral and City Council races

Hanna Holthaus, Florida Times-Union
·7 min read

From attack ads and town halls to a sea of yard signs, election season is underway in Duval.

A contentious bid for the mayor’s office has seven candidates still in the running. All but three City Council seats are up for grabs, as well as all constitutional offices, and the sheriff’s race has already been decided, as Sheriff T.K. Waters ran unopposed during the qualifying period.

The jungle primary is March 21, with all candidates facing each other regardless of party. If no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, the two top vote-getters will move on to the May election.

With early voting right around the corner, here’s everything you need to know about the races:

Ways to vote in the March 21 primary

  • Vote by mail: The deadline to request your vote by mail ballot is March 11. Requests can be made in person, by mail, fax, phone call to 904-255-8683 or through electronic ballot request on the elections office website.

  • Early voting: March 6 to March 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at any polling place. Find a list of early voting sites on the elections office website.

  • Vote on election day: Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 21. Find your voting precinct through the Duval County Precinct Finder tool – districts affected by recent redistricting may not yet be updated on the finder, but voters can call the elections office for assistance.

Mayoral election

Two Democrats, four Republicans and one NPA vie for the mayor’s office in March in what has turned into a highly contentious election.

The biggest fireworks have so far been set by Republican candidates LeAnna Cumber, a first term City Council member for District 5 and lawyer, and Daniel Davis, president of the Jax Chamber. Both have engaged in dueling attack advertisements over voting and personal histories – one of which has led to a lawsuit.

Al Ferraro, a two term City Council member for District 2 and businessman, and Frank Keasler, a Jacksonville layer, are two Republicans also in the running.

Cumber emphasizes her role as a mother and offers hard stances on child protections, infrastructure investments and a ban on the city’s gas tax. Davis, who current Mayor Lenny Curry endorsed last year, campaigns strongly on increasing JSO presence, the benefit of the gas tax and downtown development.

Ferraro also campaigns on his stance against the gas tax, as well as continuously voting against rural development and increasing JSO funding. Keasler campaigns on keeping gender identity studies out of public schools and starting a "Golf Not Guns" program, as well as decreasing government spending.

On the left side of the aisle, Donna Deegan, a former television news reporter and founder of the Donna Foundation, has run on a “change for good” platform. She campaigns on three primary issues of heath, infrastructure and the economy.

Audrey Gibson, a former state representative, runs as a “consensus builder” focusing on unifying the city through the budget, economic growth and a combination of traditional and community policing efforts.

Omega Allen has run for mayor in the previous two election cycles and is the only candidate running without party affiliation. She campaigns on bringing equity to all Jacksonville residents, including in housing and job opportunity.

Updates in the mayor’s race and where candidates stand on Jacksonville issues:

Commentary:Mark Woods: Even after ugly campaign — maybe especially after it — still reason to vote

Confederate monuments:Mayoral candidates' views on Confederate monuments split on party lines

Three takeaways from business forum: Jacksonville mayoral candidates make pitch to business leaders. Here's what they said

Commentary: Mark Woods: Jacksonville mayoral candidate Daniel Davis still avoids answering questions

Commentary on televised debate:Nate Monroe: While frontrunner Daniel Davis sunk, GOP longshot Al Ferraro shined

First televised mayoral debate:5 takeaways from Jacksonville mayoral debate

Candidates on development:Jacksonville mayoral candidates differ on best path for city's growth and development

Cumber commits to transparency: City Council committee will refer LeAnna Cumber investigation to Ethics Commission

City Council investigates:LeAnna Cumber refuses to cooperate with investigation she calls a 'political attack'

Commentary: Nate Monroe: Campaign operatives think you're an idiot, and other JEA observations

Candidates talk diversity:What do Jacksonville mayoral candidates say about faith, diversity and public safety issues?

Sheriff T.K. Waters endorses Davis:Daniel Davis pledges to expand police force as he accepts Jacksonville sheriff's endorsement

Scenes from first mayoral town hall:Six takeaways from the first mayoral debate of Jacksonville 2023 election season

Commentary:Nate Monroe: In quest for mayor, challengers hope to derail coronation for establishment scion

Background:Mayor's race will have most diverse field of candidates in Jacksonville history

Constitutional offices

The races for Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector are already closed with Jerry Holland and Jim Overton, respectively, winning the elections unopposed.

There are still three candidates for Property Appraiser – two of whom are currently on City Council. Joyce Morgan and Danny Becton were both ineligible to run for council again because of term limits and face Jason Fischer for the position.

City Council races

After the redistricting marathon of the past year, some City Council districts will look very different for voters – and the others not affected will still have new faces as eight of 19 seats have no incumbent in the race.

Districts 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 have taken new shapes under a map developed by plaintiffs in the redistricting case.

Current District 7 council member Reggie Gaffney, Jr. will run in the new District 8, while the current council member Ju’Coby Pittman will run for current council member Brenda Priestly-Jackson’s spot in District 10. Priestly-Jackson exited the race because of continued disagreement and distrust of the new district map.

District 9 incumbent Tyrona Clark-Murray and District 12 council member Randy White will both run for reelection in their current seats.

Council members Kevin Carrico, Nick Howland and Matt Carlucci retained their existing seats by running unopposed at qualifying.

Races set:Field for Jacksonville City Council elections set, with some races already decided

District 1 candidates:

Ken Amro, Republican

Alton McGriff, Jr., Democrat

More on the District 1 race:TV news vet Ken Amaro faces Realtor Alton McGriff in Jacksonville City Council race

District 2 candidates:

Lindsey Brock, Republican

Jennifer Casey, Republican

Mike Gay, Republican

District 3 candidates:

Natalie Alden, Republican

Will Lahnen, Republican

District 5 candidates:

Joe Carlucci, Republican

Morgan Roberts, Republican

More on District 5 race:Jacksonville City Council race puts political dynasty heir against corporate exec newcomer

District 6 candidates:

Micahel Boylan, Republican

Tom Harris, Republican

District 7 candidates:

Joseph Hogan, Republican

Parrish King, NPA

Jimmy Peluso, Democrat

John Phillips, Democrat

Kim Pryor, Democrat

District 8 candidates:

Charles Barr, Republican

Reggie Gaffney, Jr., Democrat

Tameka Gaines Holly, Democrat

Solomon Olopade, Democrat

Ronald Tracy Robison, Jr., Libertarian

District 9 candidates:

Shanna Carter, Democrat

Tyrona Clark-Murray, Democrat

Celestine Mills, Democrat

Mike Muldoon, Republican

TaNita Noisette-Woods, Democrat

Kamren Stowers, Democrat

District 10 candidates:

Vanessa Cullins Hopkins, Democrat

Keshan Gainey Chambliss, Democrat

Brian M. Hicks, Write-in

Kim Stephens Perry, Democrat

Ju’Coby Pittman, Democrat

District 11 candidates:

Raul Arias, Republican

Norman Brewer, Republican

Ramon Day, Democrat

Annalyn Velasquez-Insco, Republican

District 12 candidates:

Johnny Causey, Democrat

Tammyette Thomas, Democrat

Randy White, Republican

District 13 candidates:

Rory Diamond, Republican

Mike Finn, Write-in

District 14 candidates:

John Draper, Republican

Alberta Hipps, Republican

Rahman Johnson, Democrat

At-large group 1 candidates:

Terrance Freeman, Republican

Eric Parker, Libertarian

At-large group 2 candidates:

Joshua Hicks, Democrat

Ron Salem, Republican

More on the at-large group 2 race:Before chasing City Council presidency, Ron Salem faces re-election fight with Joshua Hicks

At-large group 5 candidates:

Reginald Blout, Republican

Charles Garrison, Democrat

Jack Meeks, NPA

Chris Miller, Republican

Nahshon Nicks, Democrat

Jerry Rorabaugh, Libertarian

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Duval County voter guide for mayoral, city council elections 2023