A key strategist for the 2024 presidential campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Jeff Roe, has recently stepped down from his position. Roe, who played a crucial role as one of DeSantis’s top advisors and the mastermind behind the governor’s campaign, made the announcement of his resignation in a post on X platform on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
This decision comes in the wake of a damaging report by The Washington Post regarding the failure of Never Back Down, the super PAC that Roe had established for DeSantis’s presidential bid. Below is the text of Roe’s post, where he reveals his departure from the campaign:
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
In addition to the aforementioned heading, Roe expresses admiration for DeSantis in his statement.
Furthermore, he expresses his pride in the work he has accomplished alongside DeSantis.
Within the statement, Roe explicitly acknowledges that the Post’s report played a role in his decision to resign.
Roe states, “Considering the statements published in the Washington Post today, I cannot, with a clear conscience, remain associated with Never Back Down.”
“They are not true and an unwanted distraction at a critical time for Governor DeSantis.”
There have been indications that Never Back Down has been facing difficulties for quite some time.
Arguably the most significant indication was the departure of a few high-ranking officials and the termination of several others.
The report by The Post essentially outlines the turmoil that has been occurring behind the scenes.
From the Post:
[T]he board chairman and the founding chief executive both resigned, amid internal concerns about legal compliance.
A verbal conflict from inside the group’s Atlanta offices became public, as did DeSantis’s own misgivings about the outside group’s leadership.
The governor and his campaign staff have been frustrated by reporting on the drama around Never Back Down and critical of the group’s ad strategy, with DeSantis’s second campaign manager, James Uthmeier, publicly instructing donors to give elsewhere for TV ads.
