Moms for Liberty Co-Founder Bridget Ziegler to Depart Sarasota County School Board
Bridget Ziegler, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, will step down from the Sarasota County Schools Board on November 17, 2026, at the end of her current term, having not sought re-election. This departure follows a period of significant controversy, including a 2023 scandal involving allegations against her husband. Ziegler was initially elected to the board in 2014 with support from Governor Ron DeSantis. During her tenure, the board made several contentious decisions, such as removing references to race, sexuality, and disability from anti-bullying rules, pledging support for ICE agents to deport undocumented students, and rejecting new federal protections for LGBTQ+ students. Recent school board elections saw two Democratic-backed candidates win, and a third is headed for a runoff, potentially shifting the board to a Democratic majority.