Florida GOP Hits Deegan with Election Law Complaint Over Launch Video

TALLAHASSEE — The Republican Party of Florida filed a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission on Friday, April 17, 2026, accusing Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan's re-election campaign of violating state election laws with its launch advertisement[1][2][3]. The dispute centers on a polished, multi-minute video released hours after Deegan filed her re-election paperwork on Thursday, featuring staged footage in her downtown Jacksonville office, testimonials, edited news clips and scenes from multiple city locations[2][3]. The GOP complaint, detailed in a Tallahassee press release, claims breaches of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes, including accepting in-kind contributions, making or authorizing expenditures before opening a campaign account, and approving spending without sufficient funds on deposit[1][2]. Party spokespeople argued the high-production video's timing suggests either pre-filing payments, obligations or use of political committee funds, all prohibited under Florida law which bars campaign activity prior to establishing a legal account[2]. The filing demands a full investigation by the commission[1][3]. A Deegan campaign representative fired back, labeling the GOP action a 'politically motivated smear campaign' and asserting 'everything was done by the book'[3]. Deegan, a Democrat who upset Republican incumbent Lenny Curry in 2023 to become Jacksonville's first female mayor, launched her bid for a second term amid a competitive Duval County political landscape where Republicans hold a voter registration edge[3]. The video highlighted her first-term achievements in the nation's largest city by land area, from the St. Johns River City to its sprawling suburbs. This skirmish unfolds as Jacksonville's 2027 mayoral race heats up, with the Florida Elections Commission now tasked with reviewing the allegations. No timeline for the probe has been announced, but past complaints have led to fines or dismissals depending on evidence[1][2].