Florida school board approves measure calling Moms for Liberty co-founder to resign

The Sarasota County School Board in Florida voted 4-1 on Tuesday night calling for the resignation of board member and Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler following a sex scandal.

Board Chair Karen Rose proposed the resolution calling for the resignation, although there is no power of enforcement behind it. Ziegler was the only member to oppose the resolution.

Members of the public addressed the board Tuesday night, largely in support of the resolution requesting Ziegler step down. In comments to the members of the school board before the vote took place Tuesday, Ziegler said she was “disappointed” in the proposed resolution.

Ziegler’s husband, Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler, has been accused of rape. His accuser had reportedly previously had a sexual relationship with both of the Zieglers.

Christan Ziegler has faced calls by multiple Republicans, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott, to resign.

Bridget Ziegler has also faced calls to step down from her positions with the school board and Moms for Liberty, with some saying her positions on schools and conservative beliefs have been hypocritical.  

“The Zieglers have made a habit out of attacking anything they perceive as going against ‘family values,’ be it reproductive rights or the existence of LGBTQ+ Floridians,” state Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said in a statement. “The level of hypocrisy in this situation is stunning.” 

Ziegler has been on the school board since 2014 and co-founded Moms for Liberty in 2021. The organization has pushed for more conservative school board members and advocated for laws that restrict the teaching of LGBTQ topics in schools.