JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An anonymous mass text message campaign targeting prominent Jacksonville leaders has expanded, with the president of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce now among those singled out.
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The News4JAX I-TEAM has learned that Daniel Davis, who has led the JAX Chamber since 2013, is the latest public figure targeted by messages sent from spoofed phone numbers to residents across North Florida. The texts closely resemble similar messages recently aimed at JEA CEO Vickie Cavey, raising concerns about a coordinated effort.
The messages attacking Davis question his salary and reference public funding tied to the chamber. They follow a format and style nearly identical to those criticizing Cavey, suggesting a possible connection between the campaigns.
Political analysts said the similarities are unlikely to be coincidental.
“This is not just random. This is very sophisticated,” University of North Florida political analyst Rick Mullaney said. “It’s not just a political campaign — there are financial interests here.”
Davis, a former mayoral candidate, has not held elected office since losing the 2023 race to Mayor Donna Deegan. In his concession speech, Davis pledged to support Deegan’s administration and continue working to improve Jacksonville through his role at the chamber.
Despite a contentious campaign, Davis and Deegan have since collaborated on economic development efforts, including downtown projects and business recruitment initiatives.
The emergence of attacks against both Davis and Cavey comes amid growing scrutiny and multiple ongoing investigations. According to Mullaney, inquiries are being conducted by the State Attorney’s Office, the Jacksonville City Council, the city’s inspector general and JEA itself.
“The real context here isn’t just the content of the messages, but who is behind them and why,” Mullaney said. “I don’t think this is the end — this is the beginning.”
Jacksonville City Council member Matt Carlucci also raised concerns, suggesting the timing of the messages may be tied to the upcoming election cycle and broader efforts to destabilize local leadership.
“Jacksonville has real momentum, and that’s why I believe it’s no coincidence these political attacks are surfacing as we approach the next election,” Carlucci said in a statement.
News4JAX reached out to Davis, JEA, the mayor’s office and representatives associated with the Ballard Partners lobbying firm, as well as former Jacksonville officials Lenny Curry and Jordan Elsbury. None responded to requests for comment.