JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville-native Donna Deegan, the founder of The DONNA Foundation, announced her run for Congress on Thursday.
During Andrew Gillum's run for governor back in 2018, Donna Deegan announced she was supporting the Democratic party and Gillum's campaign.
She's also related to Tommy Hazouri, a Democrat and member of the Jacksonville City Council.
Deegan noted at her official announcement for Congress event, though, that she has spent most of her life as a no-party affiliate. She says she spoke to people on both sides of the aisle before deciding to run, and says she has always believed there are reasonable voices on both sides.
Healthcare is a top priority for Deegan and she says she wants to help ensure healthcare is a right for every American. She mentioned hearing the desire for background checks for gun sales from both Democratic and Republican voters and says she would support that as well.
Deegan says she's interested in finding out what people want and being their voice in Congress. She also says she doesn't like how divided politics have become and says she decided to run now because she believes we are at a pivotal point in our country.
"I believe we're at a point in this country where people who can don't, if we have the opportunity to change the conversation and we don't, I think we're in a situation where we can literally lose our democracy," Deegan said. "I feel like it's gotten that bad in terms of our polarization, and I think if we don't get to a point where were listening to each other we will not get there."
Deegan says she believes people will be able to trust her because she is not a career politician with intentions to jump offices.
She will be running against GOP U.S. Congressman John Rutherford.
Donna Deegan is a former news anchor at First Coast News, and her husband Tim Deegan is our chief meteorologist.