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Donna Deegan Challenges US Rep. Rutherford

Bob Self
/
The Florida Times-Union
Donna Deegan takes the stage to campaign for Andrew Gillum on Oct. 22, 2018 at a Jacksonville rally.

Donna Deegan, the founder of the 26.2 with DONNA, The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer, has filed to run for Congress.

Deegan, who was also a longtime anchor at First Coast News, is running against incumbent Jacksonville area GOP U.S. Congressman John Rutherford (R-FL 4th District).

Deegan confirmed the run to WJCT’s Melissa Ross, writing in a text message Wednesday, that she had “just filed” to run as a Democrat. The official announcement is expected Thursday.

Deegan appeared Thursday morning on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross. Check WJCT.org Thursday afternoon for a full wrap up on her interview.

Deegan was very active politically in her public support of Democrat Andrew Gillum’s failed run for governor last year.

Rutherford, who was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 2016, was previously Jacksonville’s sheriff.

Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.

Bill joined WJCT News in September of 2017 from The Florida Times-Union, where he served in a variety of multimedia journalism positions.