Christian Ziegler
| Christian Ziegler | |
| Republican National Convention, 2016 | |
| Status: | District delegate |
| Congressional district: | 16 |
| State: | Florida |
| Bound to: | Donald Trump |
| Delegates to the RNC 2016 | |
| Calendar and delegate rules overview • Types of delegates • Delegate rules by state • State election law and delegates • Delegates by state | |
Christian Ziegler was a district-level delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Florida. All 99 delegates from Florida were bound to support Donald Trump for three ballots at the convention.[1][2] As of July 13, 2016, Trump had approximately 1,542 delegates. The winner of the Republican nomination needed the support of 1,237 delegates. Trump formally won the nomination on July 19, 2016.
On February 18, 2023, Ziegler was elected to serve as chairman of the Florida Republican Party.[3] On January 8, 2024, the Republican Party of Florida voted to remove Ziegler as party chair.[4]
Delegate rules
In Florida, delegates to the national convention were selected at congressional district conventions and the state executive meeting. All 99 delegates were bound for three ballots at the Republican National Convention to the winner of the statewide primary.
Florida primary results
- See also: Presidential election in Florida, 2016
| Florida Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
| Jeb Bush | 1.8% | 43,511 | 0 | |
| Ben Carson | 0.9% | 21,207 | 0 | |
| Chris Christie | 0.1% | 2,493 | 0 | |
| Ted Cruz | 17.1% | 404,891 | 0 | |
| Carly Fiorina | 0.1% | 1,899 | 0 | |
| Jim Gilmore | 0% | 319 | 0 | |
| Lindsey Graham | 0% | 693 | 0 | |
| Mike Huckabee | 0.1% | 2,624 | 0 | |
| John Kasich | 6.8% | 159,976 | 0 | |
| Rand Paul | 0.2% | 4,450 | 0 | |
| Marco Rubio | 27% | 638,661 | 0 | |
| Rick Santorum | 0.1% | 1,211 | 0 | |
 Donald Trump |
45.7% | 1,079,870 | 99 | |
| Totals | 2,361,805 | 99 | ||
| Source: The New York Times and Florida Department of State | ||||
Delegate allocation
Florida had 99 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, 81 were district-level delegates (three for each of the state's 27 congressional districts). District-level delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the candidate who won a plurality of the statewide vote received all of Florida's district delegates.[5][6]
Of the remaining 18 delegates, 15 served at large. At-large delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the candidate who won a plurality of the statewide vote received all of the state's at-large delegates. In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention. The RNC delegates were required to pledge their support to the candidate who won the state's primary.[5][6]
Noteworthy events
This article contains a developing news story. Ballotpedia staff are checking for updates regularly. To inform us of new developments, email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Party chair under investigation (2023)
Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida Christian Ziegler is the subject of an active investigation stemming from allegations of sexual battery.[7] The Sarasota Police Department began the investigation in November 2023, after receiving a report that tied Ziegler to a sexual assault that allegedly occurred in early October.[7] As of December 4, 2023, no charges had been filed against Ziegler. In response to the investigation, his attorney stated, "We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated."[7] Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has urged Ziegler to step down as party chair stating, "I don't see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations."[8] Ziegler responded in an email to supporters that he is innocent and will not resign his post.[9]
Party suspension and sexual assault allegations (2023)
On January 8, 2024, the Republican Party of Florida voted to remove Ziegler as party chair.[10]
On December 17, 2023, the executive committee of the Republican Party of Florida voted 39-0 to suspend Christian Ziegler as party chair and reduce his salary to $1. The vote removed most of Ziegler’s powers as chair, including hiring or dismissing staff, representing or speaking on behalf of the Florida GOP, or fundraising for the party.[11]
Christian Ziegler is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in October 2023. Ziegler and his wife Bridget had allegedly planned a sexual encounter with the woman; when Bridget couldn't attend, the woman attempted to cancel, alleging that Christian proceeded to assault her at her apartment.[12][11] The Sarasota Police Department closed an investigation into the allegation in January 2024 but forwarded a separate allegation of video voyeurism to the state attorney.[13] The Florida GOP voted not to hold a separate investigation.[14]
On December 12, 2023, the Sarasota County School Board voted 4-1 in favor of a resolution encouraging Bridget to step down from her position on the board.[15]The board’s bylaws do not allow for it to remove members, and Bridget has not resigned.[15][16]
“You know, I am disappointed. As people may know, I serve on another public board and this issue did not come up and we were able to forge ahead with the business of the board," said Bridget Ziegler, referring to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which she is also a member.[17]
See also
- Republican National Convention, 2016
- 2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules
- RNC delegate guidelines from Florida, 2016
- Republican delegate rules by state, 2016
- Presidential election, 2016
- Presidential candidates, 2016
Footnotes
- ↑ Republican Party of Florida, "Florida GOP announces 99 delegates," May 14, 2016
- ↑ Republican Party of Florida, "Party Rules of Procedure," January 15, 2011
- ↑ Florida Phoenix, "Christian Ziegler elected as new chair of the Republican Party of Florida," February 18, 2023
- ↑ News Channel 8, "Florida Republicans vote to oust chairman accused of rape," accessed January 8, 2024
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Washington Post, "Florida GOP chairman ensnared in inquiry involving alleged sexual battery," November 30, 2023
- ↑ "Axios", "DeSantis urges Florida GOP chair to resign after sexual battery allegation," December 1, 2023
- ↑ "AP", "Florida Republican chairman won’t resign over rape allegation, saying he is innocent," December 3, 2023
- ↑ News Channel 8, "Florida Republicans vote to oust chairman accused of rape," accessed January 8, 2024
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 ‘’CNN’’, “Florida GOP censures Chair Christian Ziegler and strips him of authority amid sexual assault investigation,” accessed December 18, 2023
- ↑ ‘’NBC’’, “Florida Republican leaders vote to strip authority from party chairman accused of rape,” accessed December 18, 2023
- ↑ WGCU, "Bridget Ziegler contradicts husband’s story of planned threesome," accessed January 31, 2024
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCNN - ↑ 15.0 15.1 “Florida school board recommends ouster of Moms for Liberty co-founder over Republican sex scandal,” accessed December 18, 2023
- ↑ ‘’Sarasota County Schools’’, “CHAPTER 2 SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION,” accessed December 18, 2023
- ↑ Today’’, “Florida GOP expected to oust leader Christian Ziegler after sexual assault allegation,” accessed December 18, 2023
| ||||||||||||||||
