Jeff Roe, the chief strategist for the super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's presidential bid, has resigned amidst turmoil within the group. The pro-DeSantis super PAC, named Never Back Down, has experienced multiple high-profile departures in recent weeks. The resignations include one chief executive and one board chairman, along with the firing of a second chief executive and two other top officials. These departures come after internal conflicts and finger-pointing within the group, coinciding with DeSantis's decline in the polls.

Roe expressed his disappointment in a statement posted on his social media account, stating, "I can't believe it ended this way." The news of Roe's resignation was first reported by The Washington Post. His decision to quit followed comments made by Scott Wagner, the new chairman of the super PAC's board and a loyalist to DeSantis. Wagner accused the previously fired chief executive and two others, all of whom had worked under Roe, of "mismanagement and conduct issues" as well as "numerous unauthorized leaks." However, a lawyer representing the terminated employees contacted Wagner, prompting him to revise his statement and add hedging language to the accusations.

In response to the revised statement, Roe stated, "I cannot in good conscience stay affiliated with Never Back Down given the statements in The Washington Post." Nonetheless, he expressed hope that DeSantis would still become the next president and praised the Never Back Down team as "political warriors." Wagner did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Roe's resignation.

The composition of Never Back Down has always been a point of contention, with Roe and his top aides having to work alongside a decision-making board primarily comprised of DeSantis's long-time friends and loyalists. This arrangement has raised questions about potential coordination between the campaign and the super PAC, as rules prohibit such collaboration. Former President Donald Trump, who has privately mocked Roe in the past, celebrated his departure on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing, "Jeff Roe is out - GAME OVER for DeSanctimonious."

The future of Never Back Down's internal operations remains uncertain. The PAC has raised over $130 million as of July but has been plagued by infighting and staff turnover. Many of Roe's allies hold key positions within the group, and his company, Axiom, has played a crucial role in staffing early state efforts for the PAC. It is unclear whether these individuals will remain in their positions. News of Roe's resignation began to circulate in the evening, although he and others connected to Never Back Down did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation. Roe eventually confirmed his departure to The Washington Post and posted his statement on social media.

Roe's tenure at Never Back Down has been marked by controversy. He had previously caused frustration within DeSantis's campaign by creating unwanted headlines, such as the publication of a memo outlining debate strategy on his company's website. The campaign found this embarrassing and had the memo taken down. Additionally, Roe was secretly recorded during a meeting with donors, where he sought tens of millions of dollars and suggested that DeSantis needed to surpass Trump within 60 days. The Trump campaign seized on this comment and referred to it as Roe's "kiss of death." Despite the time passing and DeSantis still trailing behind Trump in the polls, Roe's departure represents another setback for the campaign.

Internal tensions within Never Back Down escalated in November when another super PAC called Fight Right was formed by three DeSantis loyalists. The board of Never Back Down subsequently directed $1 million to Fight Right. In the aftermath of this decision, the chief executive, board chairman, and two other top officials of the super PAC resigned or were fired. DeSantis has since met with potential donors for Fight Right, and his campaign manager expressed support for the group as the preferred entity for political advertising. The first ad released by the new super PAC attacked South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley by referencing her previous comments about Hillary Clinton, a line of attack that DeSantis's campaign had recently featured in its own materials criticizing Haley.

Although DeSantis initially entered the race as the leading challenger to Trump, his campaign has struggled in recent months. Early state polls show that Haley has either matched or surpassed DeSantis in popularity. The ongoing drama within the super PAC has frustrated some campaign staff members, who view it as an unnecessary distraction. Notably, the campaign itself had previously experienced internal conflicts, including mass layoffs and the promotion of a campaign manager who had no prior campaign experience.