Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said state Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler should resign while police investigate a rape allegation against him. Ziegler hasn't been charged, but the investigation comes as the 2024 election heats up. DeSantis is running for president, and the state GOP is working to reelect U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. Florida was also key to Republicans winning a slim majority in the U.S. House in 2022, and the party will be defending the newly won seats. “He’s innocent till proven guilty, but we just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny,” DeSantis told reporters Tuesday night after appearing with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Fox News, according to a transcript provided by the DeSantis campaign. “The mission is more important.” DeSantis said Ziegler and his wife Bridget, a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, have been friends, but the allegations are too serious for Ziegler to stay in the position. He said he wasn't aware of the investigation until news reports on Thursday. The Florida Center for Governmental Accountability was the first to report on the investigation. Ziegler's attorney has said he will be exonerated, but otherwise wouldn't discuss the case. The police report was filed Oct. 4 about an incident two days earlier in a private home. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/sarasotacounty/florida-gop-chair-rape-allegation-desantis-calls-resignation/67-d433f5ae-e223-4530-837c-6e2a56934c54 ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay