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But now, as Trump lines up against DeSantis in a battle over a high-profile ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Florida, the governor’s old ally, Jeff Roe, is working against him. The relationship, however, soured after DeSantis’ presidential ambitions went up in flames. In June, a Fox News survey found that 66% of Florida voters were for marijuana legalization while just 32% were against it — and that came before Trump said he would support the marijuana initiative. So whenever you’re going against that much money, it’s obviously a tough fight.”Jeff Roe led Never Back Down, the main super PAC backing DeSantis' presidential primary bid. “It’s obviously a different opinion than [DeSantis] has.”Other prominent DeSantis supporters are also in potentially difficult political positions.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Jeff Roe, DeSantis, Roe, “, ”, Trump, ” Jeff Roe, hasn’t, Trump’s, Anthony Farhat, Ron, Jeff, Sen, Joe Gruters, ” Morgan Hill, Trulieve, Roe —, James Uthmeier, Uthmeier, Farhat, Tom Brady, Robert Kraft, Brady, ” Farhat, ” Matt Dixon, Allan Smith Organizations: Florida Gov, Trump, DeSantis, GOP, Republican, Fox News, PAC, Ballard Partners, Capital City Consulting, NBC News, Florida Republican Party, Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, Smart, New England Patriots, Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Locations: TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Florida, Tallahassee, New England, Tallahassee , Florida, New York

☆ Pro-Trump and anti-Trump Republicans agree on one thing: He will be the nominee
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Daniel Strauss | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Trump is going to be the nominee of the Republican Party unless something drastic happens over the next few months,” said Alabama Republican Party chairman John Wahl. Republicans are ready to get there as well.”The confidence among the body of 168 RNC committee members reflected the former president’s dominance and enduring grip over much of the GOP. Still, Shawn Steel, a RNC committee member from California, brushed off the danger of that scenario for the GOP ticket. Still, other RNC committee members worry that the multiple court cases could distract from making the election about Biden’s record. “The criticisms generally at (RNC chair Ronna McDaniel) are coming from Trumpers,” said Bill Palatucci, an RNC committee member from New Jersey who sometimes clashes with the more pro-Trump Republicans.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump, ”, John Wahl, They’ve, Nikki Haley, Rob Steele, Steele, Haley, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, Henry McMaster, Nancy Mace, Evan Power, Shawn Steel, Steel, “ There’s, ” Steel, ” Richard Porter, Biden’s, Biden, ” Henry Barbour, Ronna McDaniel, Bill Palatucci, Don’t Gamble, McDaniel’s, Kristina Karamo, Pete Hoekstra, Joe Lombardo, Lombardo Organizations: Las Vegas CNN, Republican, Committee, Trump, Republican Party, Alabama Republican, Republicans, GOP, Trump’s, RNC, Gov, South Carolina, Florida Republican, Trump –, Trump Republicans, Michigan GOP, Nevada Gov Locations: Las Vegas, Michigan, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Sens, Florida, California, Illinois, Mississippi, Trumpers, New Jersey, Nevada

☆ Republicans worry that turmoil plaguing state parties could hurt GOP up and down the ballot in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Daniel Strauss | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“I think it’s going to be a problem,” said Oscar Brock, a member of the Republican National Committee from Tennessee. And the state parties rely on the RNC and we ship them the data. Kemp has used his, the Georgians First Leadership Committee, as a political fundraising vehicle operating outside of the usual channels of the state Republican party. State parties play a key role in activating voters, organizing door knocking efforts and corralling donors. In the past, Barbour stressed, candidates could leave a fair share of the phone calls and door knocking to the state parties.

Persons: hamstrung, “, ”, Oscar Brock, –, Brian Kemp, Donald Trump, Ron Kaufman, ” Kaufman, Christian Ziegler, Kristina Karamo, Evan Power, Karamo, Jeff DeWit, DeWit, Ronna McDaniel, Kemp, Trump, We’ve, It’s, ” Jason Shepherd, can’t, you’re, Henry Barbour, Barbour, ” Barbour, that’s, Joe Biden we’re Organizations: CNN, Republican, Republican Party, Republican National Committee, Republicans, Georgia Gov, Prosperity, RNC, Florida Republicans, Florida Republican, Republican Party of Florida, Florida Party, Michigan Republican Party, Clark County School District, Clark County Republican Party, Nevada Republican Party, Republican National, Arizona Republican, An, An Arizona Republican, Georgia Republican, MAGA, GOP, Georgia Republicans, Leadership, Democratic Party, Cobb County Republican Party, Democrat, – Locations: Michigan, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Clark, Las Vegas, Trump, Maricopa County, An Arizona, Georgians, Cobb County, Mississippi, “

However, police said the woman told investigators that she never consented to be video recorded and was unaware it had occurred. Court records show that his wife, Bridget Ziegler, told detectives the three had engaged in sex once more than a year ago. The Republican Party of Florida ousted Ziegler earlier this month as police investigated the rape accusation against him. It wasn’t immediately clear what the conclusion of the rape investigation would mean for Ziegler’s future with the state Republican Party. In a phone call, the woman told Ziegler that he had sexually assaulted her.

Persons: Christian Ziegler, Ziegler, Derek Byrd, ”, ” Byrd, Sarasota Police Department ‘, Mr, Bridget Ziegler, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, couldn’t, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Evan Power, Angela Cox, “ couldn’t, Cox, “ Organizations: Florida Republican Party, Sarasota Police Department, Police, Sarasota County, Attorney's Office, Prosecutors, State, State Attorney, Liberty, Gov, Walt Disney, Disney, Republican Party of Florida, Sens, Republican Party, GOP, Sarasota Police, Google Locations: Sarasota, Florida, Sarasota County, DeSantis, U.S, ”

☆ A Florida GOP leader was cleared of rape allegations. But he could still face charges that he illegally recorded the sexual encounter.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Terry Spencer | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

However, police said the woman told investigators that she never consented to be video recorded and was unaware it had occurred. Court records show that his wife, Bridget Ziegler, told detectives the three had engaged in sex once more than a year ago. AdvertisementIt wasn't immediately clear what the conclusion of the rape investigation would mean for Ziegler's future with the state Republican Party. The woman told detectives that she and Ziegler have known each other for more than 20 years. AdvertisementIn a phone call, the woman told Ziegler that he had sexually assaulted her.

Persons: —, Christian Ziegler, Ziegler, Derek Byrd, Byrd, Mr, Bridget Ziegler, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, couldn't, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Evan Power, Angela Cox, Cox Organizations: Service, Florida Republican Party, Business, The Sarasota Police Department, Police, Sarasota County, Attorney's Office, Prosecutors, Sarasota Police Department, State, State Attorney, Liberty, Gov, Walt Disney, Disney, Republican Party of Florida, Sens, Republican Party, GOP, Sarasota Police, Google Locations: Sarasota, Florida, Sarasota County, DeSantis, U.S

☆ Ousted Florida Republican Party Chairman Won’t Be Charged With Sexual Assault
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Patricia Mazzei | More About Patricia Mazzei | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida who was ousted earlier this month amid a criminal investigation will not be charged with sexual battery, the Sarasota Police Department said on Friday. But the authorities will seek to charge him with video voyeurism, a felony. Christian Ziegler, the ousted chairman, recorded a sexual encounter he had in October with a woman who later accused him of assault. Officers prepared a probable cause affidavit for the video voyeurism charge and sent it to state prosecutors on Friday. They did not pursue a more serious sexual battery charge because the video, which the police obtained, “showed that the encounter was likely consensual,” the statement said.

Persons: Christian Ziegler, “, Mr, Ziegler, Bridget Ziegler Organizations: Republican Party of, Sarasota Police Department, Police Department Locations: Republican Party of Florida

After an anemic showing in the Iowa caucuses, long-shot GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson abandoned his bid for the presidential nomination Tuesday, saying he was “driving back to Arkansas” and suspending his campaign. And he angered GOP primary voters with his criticism of Trump. "Asa Hutchinson would have been a relevant and potentially competitive presidential candidate in the pre-MAGA era. In mid-November, Hutchinson crowed about making the Michigan GOP primary ballot, suggesting he was in it for the long haul. Hutchinson was one of the most outspoken GOP critics of Trump.

Persons: Asa Hutchinson, ” Hutchinson, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, DeSantis, Haley, Hutchinson, –, Bill Clinton, Trump, MAGA, David Cohen, Hutchinson's, Cohen, Ryan Binkley, Mike Pence, Rob Burgess, Chris Christie, who’s, “, ” Organizations: Hawkeye State, Republican, Trump , Florida Gov, South Carolina Gov, Florida, Trump, Department of Homeland Security, Drug, Republican Party, GOP, University of Akron, Des, Register, NBC, Suffolk University, Boston Globe, USA, Michigan GOP, New, New Jersey Gov, Florida Republican, Summit Locations: Iowa, Arkansas, Hawkeye, Trump , Florida, New Hampshire, Congress, U.S, Michigan, Miami, New Jersey, Kissimmee

☆ Details of Sexual Assault Allegation Against Florida G.O.P. Chair Add to Party Turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Colbi Edmonds | More About Colbi Edmonds | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Details of a sexual assault allegation against the chairman of the Florida Republican Party in an affidavit from state authorities are fueling turmoil within the party. The affidavit recounts that a woman says that the chairman, Christian Ziegler, assaulted her in her apartment in October. It was filed in Florida court as part of a warrant application seeking access to electronic communications and recordings on Mr. Ziegler’s Google account. A spokeswoman for the Police Department in Sarasota, Fla., confirmed on Thursday that there was an “active investigation” involving Mr. Ziegler. No charges have been filed against him, and he has denied wrongdoing through his lawyer, Derek Byrd, who did not respond on Sunday for a request for comment.

Persons: Christian Ziegler, Ziegler, Derek Byrd, ”, Bridget Ziegler Organizations: Florida Republican Party, Google, Police Department, Sarasota County School Board, Liberty Locations: Florida, Sarasota , Fla

His wife, Bridget Ziegler, told detectives that the three had engaged in sex once more than a year ago. Christian Ziegler did not immediately respond to a phone message left Saturday seeking comment. The woman told detectives that she and Christian Ziegler have known each other for more than 20 years. In a phone call, the woman told Ziegler that he had sexually assaulted her. Detectives seized Christian Ziegler’s phone on Nov. 2 and accessed his Google account two weeks ago, the affidavits say.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Christian Ziegler, Ziegler, Derek Byrd, Bridget Ziegler, DeSantis, Donald Trump, “, ” Ziegler, Nikki Fried, ” Fried, Liberty wasn't, Angela Cox, “ couldn’t, Cox, ”, Christian Ziegler’s Organizations: Florida Republican Party, LBGTQ, Police, Republican Party, Sarasota Police, Associated Press, Liberty, Florida GOP, Walt Disney, Disney, Republicans, America, Florida Democratic Party, Florida Center, Government, AP, Google Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Florida, Sarasota County, ”

☆ Criminal Investigation Roils Florida Republican Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Patricia Mazzei | More About Patricia Mazzei | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Florida’s Republican Party found itself roiled on Thursday after the police said they were investigating an accusation made two months ago that the party’s chairman had engaged in sexual battery. The chairman, Christian Ziegler, was elected to the post this year as top Florida Republicans were fretting over whether to support Gov. Mr. Ziegler was seen as the choice of Mr. Trump’s allies. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ziegler, who denied wrongdoing through his lawyer, Derek Byrd. Mr. Ziegler responded to a request for comment by sending the same statement from his lawyer.

Persons: Christian Ziegler, Ron DeSantis, Donald J, Trump, Mr, Ziegler, Trump’s, Derek Byrd, “, ” Mr, Byrd Organizations: Republican Party, Florida Republicans, Gov, Mr

Tuesday’s legislative elections in Virginia will provide key tests for both parties’ messaging ahead of 2024, as well as the state’s GOP governor. “I think they’re the most important elections in America because these issues that are so important to Virginians are also the ones that are going to be so important to Americans next year,” Virginia GOP Gov. The battles for the state House of Delegates, which Republicans control, and the state Senate, which Democrats control, could come down to a handful of districts. And they’ll test Youngkin’s own political power as he’s brushed off questions about his presidential ambitions. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s paid private speeches, noting that she did not keep records of what she said to the groups.

Persons: “, Glenn Youngkin, ABC’s, NBC’s Gary Grumbach, Katherine Koretski, Sen, Siobhan Dunnavant, Democrat Schuyler Van, Youngkin, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez, Julia Jester, Megan Lebowitz, ’, Biden, Alex Seitz, Wald, Ron DeSantis, ”, NBC’s Matt Dixon, Jonathan Allen, Ali Vitali, Nikki Haley’s, Peter Nicholas, Carol E, Lee, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott’s, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Brandy Zadrozny, He’s, Peter Meijer, who’s, Brandon Presley, Tate Reeves Organizations: GOP, Virginians, ”, ” Virginia GOP Gov, Delegates, District, Democrat, NBC News, Democratic, Biden, Israel, Hamas, Democrats, Republican National Committee, New York Times, Florida Republican Party, Florida GOP Gov, Florida GOP, South, Public Service, GOP Gov Locations: Virginia, America, ” Virginia, Democrat Schuyler Van Valkenburg, Youngkin, Michigan, Florida, South Carolina, Black, Michigan’s, Mississippi

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had a chance in April to address Donald Trump’s growing momentum toward the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. FILE PHOTO: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis talks with journalists after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the latter's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 24 April 2023. The unforced errors in that early stage had a lasting impact on DeSantis’ campaign, they acknowledged. “The president was dead set on attacking Ron DeSantis as early as possible,” Chris LaCivita, Trump’s co-campaign manager, told Reuters. LESSONS LEARNEDAides say DeSantis’ campaign has sought to make some strategic adjustments.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s, Fumio Kishida, KIMIMASA, Trump, DeSantis, coy, I’m, Trump’s, ”, DeSantis ’, “, Chris LaCivita, “ DeSantis, MAGA, LaCivita, ” LaCivita, Ford O’Connell, unelectable, Robert Bigelow, Ryan Tyson, ” David Polyansky, Evan Power, Power Organizations: WASHINGTON, Trump, Reuters, Iowa, TRUMP, Twitter, Republican, Social Security, Medicare, Inc, intoned, Conservatives, DeSantis, U.S, Congress, Republicans, Florida Republican Party Locations: Florida, Tokyo, Japan, New York, Iowa, “, Tallahassee, Lago

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis talks with journalists after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the latter's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 24 April 2023. Reuters spoke to 16 political operatives and donors close to DeSantis to reconstruct the roughly 10-week period from mid-March - before Trump's first criminal indictment in New York - to DeSantis' campaign launch on May 24. The unforced errors in that early stage had a lasting impact on DeSantis' campaign, they acknowledged. "The president was dead set on attacking Ron DeSantis as early as possible," Chris LaCivita, Trump's co-campaign manager, told Reuters. LESSONS LEARNEDAides say DeSantis' campaign has sought to make some strategic adjustments.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Fumio Kishida, KIMIMASA, Donald Trump's, DeSantis, Trump, coy, Trump's, Chris LaCivita, MAGA, LaCivita, Ford O'Connell, unelectable, Robert Bigelow, Ryan Tyson, David Polyansky, Evan Power, Power, Gram Slattery, Jim Oliphant, Nathan Layne, Alexandra Ulmer, Ross Colvin, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Rights, Trump, Reuters, Iowa, TRUMP, Twitter, Republican, Social Security, Medicare, Inc, intoned, Conservatives, DeSantis, U.S, Congress, Republicans, Florida Republican Party, San, Thomson Locations: Florida, Tokyo, Japan, New York, Iowa, Tallahassee, Lago, San Francisco

☆ How DeSantis' Early Missteps Hobbled His U.S. Presidential Bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +11 min

Reuters spoke to 16 political operatives and donors close to DeSantis to reconstruct the roughly 10-week period from mid-March - before Trump's first criminal indictment in New York - to DeSantis' campaign launch on May 24. The unforced errors in that early stage had a lasting impact on DeSantis' campaign, they acknowledged. The DeSantis campaign told Reuters it did not want to discuss any past strategic decisions and was focused on preparing for the first nominating contests, which kick off with the Iowa caucus on Jan. 15. "The president was dead set on attacking Ron DeSantis as early as possible," Chris LaCivita, Trump's co-campaign manager, told Reuters. LESSONS LEARNEDAides say DeSantis' campaign has sought to make some strategic adjustments.

Persons: Gram Slattery, James Oliphant, Nathan Layne WASHINGTON, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump's, DeSantis, Trump, coy, Trump's, Chris LaCivita, MAGA, LaCivita, Ford O'Connell, unelectable, Robert Bigelow, Ryan Tyson, David Polyansky, Evan Power, Power, Jim Oliphant, Nathan Layne, Alexandra Ulmer, Ross Colvin, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Trump, Reuters, Iowa, TRUMP, Twitter, Republican, Social Security, Medicare, Inc, intoned, Conservatives, DeSantis, U.S, Congress, Republicans, Florida Republican Party Locations: Florida, Japan, New York, Iowa, Tallahassee, Lago, San Francisco

WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Residents of Florida were largely spared a devastating blow from Hurricane Idalia this week, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also appeared to avoid the political peril that could have hurt his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. DeSantis faced a similar test this week when he suspended his campaign to oversee his state's response to Hurricane Idalia. "The real work comes post-storm, and seeing what the damage is and how he reacts," Christian Ziegler, the head of the Florida Republican Party, told Reuters. In the lead-up to the storm, DeSantis held several press conferences per day, always flanked by a bevy of emergency response officials. On the other side, Republican Florida Governor Rick Scott touted his response to 2017's Hurricane Irma in a successful bid for U.S. Senate the following year.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Hurricane Ian, Ian, Idalia, Donald Trump, Christian Ziegler, Joe Biden, Chip Roy, Ford O'Connell, Rick Scott, Irma, Barack Obama's, Sandy, Jeffrey Rumlin, Katrina, Gram Slattery, Ross Colvin, Andy Sullivan Organizations: Republican, Florida Republican Party, Reuters, Governors, Florida Republican, U.S, Senate, Thomson Locations: Florida, Idalia, New Orleans, Republican Florida, Jacksonville

☆ Inside Ken Griffin's rise to one of Wall Street's most powerful people, and why politics could be next
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +30 min

JB and I are not on speaking terms these days," said Ken Griffin, the billionaire hedge-fund manager, referring to JB Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois. As Florida rolled back pandemic restrictions more quickly than Chicago, even more Citadel employees migrated south. Ken Griffin's hedge fund has had a run of eye-popping returns since 2020. Others worry that it gives Griffin's hedge fund an unfair advantage. Hundreds of Citadel employees, partners, and families gathered at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Florida.

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