A top strategist for Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s Never Back Down super PAC resigned late Saturday, less than one month out from the Iowa caucuses, which will take place January 15.
Jeff Roe, a chief adviser to Never Back Down, announced the tendering of his resignation “effective immediately” on X. “I can’t believe it ended this way,” he posted. “I’m so proud to have worked alongside these men and women at NBD 24/7 the past nine months to save the country. Good luck the next 28 days and a wake up. I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you.”
I can’t believe it ended this way. I’m so proud to have worked alongside these men and women at NBD 24/7 the past nine months to save the country. Good luck the next 28 days and a wake up. I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you. pic.twitter.com/Rh4oQQ1tAE
— Jeff Roe (@jeffroe) December 17, 2023
Roe posted the news shortly after the Washington Post published a story highlighting discord between Never Back Down and DeSantis’s campaign, as well as accusations reportedly involving officials tied to Roe’s firm that the super PAC has since fired.
“I cannot in good conscience stay affiliated with the Never Back Down given the statements in the Washington Post today,” he said in a statement attached to the social-media post. “They are not true and an unwanted distraction at a critical time for Governor DeSantis.”
In the report, a top official at Never Back Down said “mismanagement and conduct issues, including numerous unauthorized leaks containing false information” were the reasoning behind the termination of several senior officials in recent weeks. Five other officials, besides Roe, have left the organization since late November — three of them being fired and the other two resigning.
Roe is now the latest official to step away from the Florida governor’s super PAC. Earlier this month, Never Back Down appointed its third CEO in the span of two weeks. The successive staffing shakeups come amid DeSantis’s faltering numbers in the polls, which see former president Donald Trump outperforming him and the rest of the GOP field.
Recently, DeSantis completed his tour of all of Iowa’s 99 counties. His campaign has been focusing significant resources and attention toward the state, a strategy that resulted in a key endorsement from Iowa governor Kim Reynolds and numerous other state politicians and figures.
Following his departure, Roe wished DeSantis well in his presidential campaign. “Governor Ron DeSantis has been an exceptional governor and I hope he will be the 47th President of the United States,” he said. “I wish the Governor, First Lady, and their entire team the best through the rest of the campaign.”