DeSantis’ Super PAC Fires CEO After Just Two Weeks On The Job As Chaos Grows

The super PAC aligned with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Never Back Down, has decided to part ways with their interim CEO of nine days and two of their top officials. 

Interim CEO Kristin Davison, the Director of Operations Matt Palmisan and the Communications Director Erin Perrine were fired on December 2, but the organization did not share their reasoning behind these decisions. 

Staffers at Never Back Down were surprised to hear the news of the firings. 

Davison took the position on November 22, after Chris Jankowski departed from the organization.

Scott Wagner has been chosen to act as the interim CEO and chairman of the board. 

Never Back Down’s press secretary, Dave Vasquez, released a statement, sharing, “Scott Wagner will now serve as Chairman of the Board and interim CEO of Never Back Down. Never Back Down has the most organized, advanced caucus operation of anyone in the 2024 primary field, and we look forward to continuing that great work to help elect Gov. DeSantis the next President of the United States.”

On December 2, Never Back Down held an event in Iowa with DeSantis, but Davison was noticeably absent from this. 

The organization has been experiencing major leadership changes recently, as these were not the only exits that have occurred.

On December 1, Adam Laxalt, the former Nevada attorney general and failed Senate candidate, stepped down from his position as chairman, claiming family reasons and wanting to return to law. 

A DeSantis fundraiser and businessman from Dallas, Roy Bailey, shared that he believes “there are too many cooks in the kitchen.”

“It seems like the noise from the PAC has constantly overwritten the good works that he’s doing,” Bailey told CNN. “I think it’s really a smart time to pare the organization of the PAC back and limit it to those that are most loyal to the governor, and who will be committed to continuing the good work at the PAC, but eliminate the noise.”

Despite trailing the former president significantly in the polls, DeSantis recently scored the endorsement of Iowa’s top evangelical leader who called Trump “not worthy of his endorsement.”