Ron DeSantis has experienced another setback in his presidential candidacy. Never Back Down, the main super PAC behind the Florida governor's campaign, lost another top official, the third in less than two weeks. This time, it was Kristen Davison, who was serving as interim CEO after Chris Jankowski announced he was leaving the position because of an "environment" that amounted to "a difference of strategic opinion." Davison was fired after a week and a half in the role, Fox News confirmed.
Just days earlier, Adam Laxalt, a former Nevada attorney general and close friend of DeSantis, announced he was stepping down as chairman of the super PAC. Laxalt explained then that he would be stepping down to devote more time to his family and his law practice, but remarked that he would continue to support DeSantis in his campaign for the White House.
Politico reported that Davison was fired over "management and personal issues." Two other Super PAC members were also reportedly let go, amid rumors of ongoing discord in the organization over how to run the campaign.
These confrontations reportedly almost turned physical late last month. According to NBC News, Jeff Roe and Scott Wagner were on the verge of coming to blows during a senior staff meeting.
The latter will become the new interim CEO, spokeswoman Jessica Syzmanski confirmed in a statement picked up by The Hill. Thus, Wagner will fill the two vacant positions, becoming the acting chairman and CEO.
Outwardly, Wagner will face bad poll numbers: a distant second or third place in a GOP primary led by Donald Trump and, according to FiveThiryEight's polling average, a 48% unfavorable image. Internally, he'll have to rub elbows with Fight Right, a new pro-DeSantis super PAC launched last month.
