More than 30 Florida GOP members endorse Peter Feaman for chair

By Lydia Nusbaum

Published Dec. 22, 2023, 4:28 p.m. ET | Updated Jan. 2, 2024

Republican Party of Florida National Committeeman Peter M. Feaman. (Photo/Feaman Law)

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story listed Linda Trocine of Seminole County as one of Feaman’s endorsers. Trocine disputed her endorsement, which appeared on a list released by Feaman, and her name has been removed from this report.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Republican Party of Florida National Committeeman Peter Feaman announced that more than 30 Republican Party of Florida members endorsed him in his bid for Florida GOP chair.

Republican Party of Florida Vice Chairman Evan Power is also running for the seat amid the expected vacancy of the position.

The two are running for the position ahead of an expected vote from the party’s executive committee to remove Chairman Christian Ziegler. Ziegler has faced calls to resign after it came to light that he is involved in a sexual assault investigation.

“Despite having announced my candidacy for RPOF Chairman just this week, I am honored to publish this list of early endorsers who cover the entire state and two time zones!” Feaman said in a message to members.

“I will be reaching out to many more of you, so please be patient,” he continued.

Feaman announced an endorsement from Republican Party of California National Committeewoman Harmeet Dhillon earlier this week.

On Sunday, the party voted to strip Ziegler of his authority and reduce his salary to $1. Ziegler is no longer allowed to fundraise or speak on behalf of the Florida GOP.

“After the events of the last few weeks many people have reached out to ask what I was planning to do if a vacancy became apparent in the Chairmanship,” Power said on the social platform X.

Power called for an election for a new chair to take place Jan. 8 on the same day members would vote on Ziegler’s party membership status.

He called for the party to move forward “quickly and efficiently” with the 2024 elections less than a year away. A two-thirds vote would be needed to remove Ziegler’s membership status.

Power has received multiple endorsements following his announcement to run for chair.

Ziegler has maintained he is innocent and believes he will be exonerated once the investigation is complete.

“Unfortunately, public figures are often accused of acts that they did not commit whether it be for political purposes or financial gain. I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded,” Ziegler’s attorney previously said when the investigation was first brought to light.

According to a search warrant for Ziegler’s telephone, police said the investigation revealed the victim and Ziegler have known each other for 20 years and they agreed to have a sexual encounter that included Ziegler’s wife, Bridget.

The victim claimed that on Oct. 2, Christian Ziegler sexually assaulted her, according to the search warrant.