Powerful Florida Republican, state senator and gubernatorial candidate Jack Latvala resigned Wednesday after two reports alleging he sexually harassed and made demeaning comments to female members of his staff and lobbyists.

Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, 66, submitted his resignation Wednesday but sent a letter to Senate President Joe Negron that continues to deny the allegations against him from Senate staffers. His resignation takes effect at midnight on January 5, 2018. Latvala is yet to address his governor campaign plans. There are currently two separate Senate reports investigating the sexual misconduct allegations that were made public against Latvala, with the process ultimately leading to fellow senators making a determination about his future in the legislative body.

A November report form Politico first detailed allegations from Rachel Perrin Rogers, an aide to Senate GOP Leader Wilton Simpson of Trilby, Florida. Previous Senate reports had shown that "quid pro quo" exchanges for sexual favors had potentially taken place and there was probably cause in four of the five allegations in Rogers' complaint.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio -- all Republicans -- urged Latvala to quit the Senate prior to Wednesday.

Latvala was born in Oxford, Mississippi in on Nov. 3, 1951 and attended Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.

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