Democrat Moné Holder won the Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 1 special election Tuesday, Aug. 18, flipping a countywide seat that Beaches-area voters help decide and becoming the lone Democrat among the council's five at-large members.

Holder Clears 50% Threshold, Avoids Runoff

Complete but unofficial results showed Holder with 51.27% of the vote, or 73,553 ballots, according to the Florida Trib. Republican Deborah Wesley, a retired Jacksonville Sheriff's Office commander endorsed by Sheriff T.K. Waters, received just under 45%, or 64,028 votes. Libertarian Addison "Liberty" Patrick garnered about 4%, about 5,800 votes.

Holder cleared 50% by just 1,549 votes over the threshold, avoiding a November runoff.

Council's Partisan Balance Shifts With Holder's Win

The victory shifts the 19-member council's partisan makeup to 13 Republicans and 6 Democrats, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported. All five at-large seats had been held by Republicans until Holder's win, though At-Large Group 4 member Matt Carlucci commonly votes with Democrats.

Holder's Budget Priorities and Path to the Seat

Holder, chair of the Jacksonville Planning Commission since 2023 and chief advocacy officer for Florida Rising, ran on an "Affordability First" message. She told the Florida Times-Union on election night that she would fight to restore $4.9 million for an affordable housing trust fund that the City Council Finance Committee stripped from Mayor Donna Deegan's proposed 2026-27 budget.

"I'm elated that voters have made the choice for a candidate who wants to work for the people and not engage in any party politics or political drama, and I'm just ready to get to work and deliver on that promise," Holder told the Jacksonville Daily Record on election night.

The seat opened when Republican Councilman Terrance Freeman resigned to run for the Florida Legislature. The City Council and Mayor Deegan authorized the special election through resolution 2026-474-A on May 26.

Big-Dollar Donation Fueled Holder's Campaign

Holder's campaign received a major financial boost: Jacksonville attorney and longtime Democratic donor Steve Pajcic gave $510,000 to the political committee Jacksonville Together, which supported her candidacy with television ads. A campaign spokesperson said a GOP council majority's effort to cut city funding for Meals on Wheels motivated Pajcic's donation, the Florida Trib reported.

Pre-Election Litigation Over Ballot Eligibility

The race also drew pre-election litigation. Duval Republicans failed to convince a judge to remove Patrick from the ballot, and Patrick then sued Wesley over residency requirements. A judge dismissed those claims after a bench trial the week before the election.

What's Next: Certification and a 2027 Reelection Bid

The Duval County Supervisor of Elections must certify results by Friday, Aug. 28. Once certified, Holder takes office in time to vote on the city's 2026-27 budget, which the full council must approve before Oct. 1.

To keep the seat, Holder must win reelection on Tuesday, March 9, 2027, when all council seats and the mayor's office will be on the ballot. The Jacksonville Beach Branch Library is a designated early voting location for that race.