Christian Ziegler says he has the votes to be Florida GOP Vice Chair

Christian Ziegler

Christian Ziegler, currently the Sarasota County Republican State Committeeman, said he has racked up enough endorsements to guarantee his ascension to Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Florida.

He released a list Tuesday of 121 grassroots and State Executive Committee endorsements, including Joe Gruters, the front-runner for state Chair position, and Michael Barnett, the current state Vice Chair.

“Now, as we turn the page towards the political battle of our lifetime, I look forward to working for and alongside each one of you to help ensure President Trump’s re-election, increase our majorities in the Legislature, and win at the local level,” wrote Ziegler in a release announcing the endorsements.

If Ziegler wins the Vice Chair post, it will likely mean the top two elected positions running the Republican Party of Florida will hail from the same county.

Gruters, who won re-election as Republican Party of Sarasota chair last Thursday, became the clear front-runner for state chair when he got the backing of incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Ziegler’s list of 121 endorsements represents more than the 115 votes needed to clinch a victory, at least based on the number of members who voted in the state elections two years ago.

In seeking support, Ziegler has spun his local connection with Gruters as an asset.

“People see Joe and I as a team,” he told Florida Politics. “We can work together more easily being 10 minutes from each other.”

More importantly, Ziegler said his own relationships with party leaders around the state contributed to his easily tallying strong support.

“I’ve helped every county whenever they need help, no matter where they are located,” he said.

Ziegler’s biggest competition for the post, Leon County Republican Chair Evan Power, just pulled himself from the running last week after being stopped and charged with a DUI.

So far, no other major competitors have come forward to challenge Ziegler.

Gruters faces a challenge from Charlotte County Republican State Committeeman Bob Starr.

Ziegler and Power, in fact, spent much of the last two years rallying votes to win the state chair post themselves. DeSantis interviewed both as he considered who to back for position.

But as Gruters emerged as the front-runner, both Power and Ziegler turned to the Vice Chair position.

Ziegler this month also won public office and was recently sworn in to a four-year term on the Sarasota County Commission.

RPOF will hold its annual meeting of the state executive committee in January. Officers will be elected Jan. 12.

Complete list of endorsements below: