UPDATE: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender has confirmed that Mayor Reeves pre-filed this afternoon.
Mayor D.C. Reeves is expected to pre-file today to run for a second term.
- Indications: Reeves held a small fundraiser for this PAC earlier this week. City Hall staff has been told he will run.
Why D.C. Reeves Might Run Again
When D.C. Reeves took office in November 2022 at age 38, skeptics wondered whether a sports journalist-turned-brewery owner could actually deliver on big-city promises.
Promises Kept
The numbers tell the story. Reeves established the city’s first dedicated grants office—which has already secured over $100 million in external funding. The American Magic headquarters at the Port of Pensacola required assembling $15 million from multiple sources. The airport terminal expansion, now breaking ground with a $113 million price tag, will add five gates by 2027 to handle over 3 million annual passengers. The Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park spans 18 city blocks with $30 million secured.
- Reeves also delivered what Pensacola never had: a comprehensive strategic plan. “Strive to Thrive: Pensacola 2035” engaged 1,700 residents and, for the first time, aligned the mayor and council behind a data-driven vision.
The public safety results speak for themselves. Pensacola was recently ranked the #4 safest city in the United States. Reeves delivered record wages for police and firefighters and created a Community Response Team. He inherited a city workforce paid in the bottom 20th percentile nationally and implemented the largest pay reform in Pensacola’s history—with 75% going to employees earning under $50,000.
- His leadership is drawing national attention. Governor DeSantis appointed him to the CareerSource Florida Board. Fellow mayors selected him to serve on the U.S. Conference of Mayors Advisory Board and chair its Committee on Jobs, Education, and Workforce.
The timing matters. American Magic’s Maritime Center opens in January 2025, bringing 170 high-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing. ST Engineering’s third hangar will be completed in the second half of 2026. The Baptist Hospital demolition and the “New Palafox” project begin in January, and Reverb by Hard Rock will break ground after the Blue Wahoos complete their 2026 season.
- The case for a second term is simple: Reeves promised transformation, secured the funding, launched the projects, and built the accountability framework. Pensacola should evaluate him not on promises made in 2022, but on completed projects in 2026.
Why D.C. Reeves Might Not Run
The Family Factor
When asked directly about re-election at his Sept 3 press conference, Reeves was candid about the personal toll. “Family is a big part of this, and I think I have enough respect for the people in my household, people in my family, my friends, who also kind of live vicariously through the ups and downs, the criticisms, and the difficulties of this job.”
His daughter Caroline was 8 when he was elected in 2022—she’s about 11 now. That puts her squarely in middle school years through high school if he serves another term. He specifically mentioned that family members handle the criticism worse than he does: “Sometimes I can handle a little better than they, as you can imagine, I get a little more calloused over, and (I’ve) been doing a little bit longer, but I don’t take for granted their support.”
Ongoing Controversies Taking Their Toll
Parking remains a persistent headache. Despite implementing discounted resident permits and a $10 senior pass, the paid parking expansion has drawn sustained criticism. Survey data showed 27% of residents cited availability as their biggest concern, 21% cited cost. Downtown business owners have been particularly vocal, with employees complaining about having to pay to come to work. Ann Hill is now running for mayor explicitly on free downtown parking as a counter to Reeves’ approach.
Bay Bluffs Park closure has frustrated residents since March 2023. Despite securing a $2.2 million grant, the timeline extends to 2027 for reopening. Reeves acknowledged the frustration in August 2025: “There’s no one more impatient about getting Bay Bluffs Park done inside these city limits than me.” But patience isn’t a political virtue.
The Malcolm Yonge Gym demolition put him at odds with historic preservationists, including Ann Hill, who formed a citizen committee to try to stop it. Though Reeves proceeded to clear space for affordable housing, it created lasting opposition.
The Reimagine Palafox project drew a letter from 20+ downtown businesses warning the 5-6 month construction period starting January 2026 “could truly be the nail in the coffin to many of our businesses.” That’s happening right as the 2026 campaign heats up.
Baptist Redevelopment has been placed on hold after residents living near Baptist’s legacy campus questioned the hiring of Bayou District Consulting as a development advisor. The site may stay vacant until the Pensacola City Council approves a redevelopment plan.
The Burnout Question
He references the “ups and downs, and the criticisms, and the difficulties of this job” affecting not just him but everyone around him.
- Reeves could declare victory with the airport expansion breaking ground, American Magic moving in, and $100+ million in grants secured—and let someone else deal with the parking complaints.
