Chris Jankowski, the CEO of Never Back Down, a major PAC supporting Republican Ron DeSantis’ bid for the presidential nomination, resigned on Wednesday, dealing a further blow to the Florida governor’s faltering White House campaign. Jankowski cited his position as “untenable” in a statement provided to Reuters.
Jankowski’s departure adds to the string of setbacks for DeSantis’ presidential bid, including the firing of around two dozen campaign staffers in July and the replacement of his campaign manager in August. Despite legal restrictions on coordination between campaigns and super PACs, Never Back Down has been heavily involved in organizing events for DeSantis.
DeSantis, who started the year as a formidable contender for the Republican presidential nomination, has seen a significant decline in recent months, trailing former President Donald Trump by nearly 40 points in national opinion polls. Trump is currently leading the race for the party’s nomination, setting up a potential rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2024 election.
Jankowski’s statement suggested internal disagreements within the super PAC, not only on strategy but also on spending. He stated, “Given the current environment it has become untenable for me to deliver on the shared goal,” indicating a broader issue beyond just strategic differences.
While super PACs are permitted to raise unlimited funds to support a political candidate, they are prohibited from contributing funds or directly coordinating with the candidate or their campaign.
DeSantis is pinning his hopes on a strong showing in Iowa, the first state in the Republican nominating process. He received a boost when Iowa’s Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, endorsed him over Trump earlier this month.
(Reporting by Tim Reid; Editing by Josie Kao)
