CEO of pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down resigns — days after near brawl between allies of Florida governor

The CEO of Never Back Down, the most prominent super PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2024 presidential campaign, has resigned.

Chris Jankowski stepped down Wednesday, just days after a brawl nearly broke out at one of the super PAC’s group strategy meetings as the Sunshine State governor has sunk in GOP primary polls. 

“Never Back Down’s main goal and sole focus has been to elect Governor Ron DeSantis as President,” Jankowski said in a statement. “Given the current environment it has become untenable for me to deliver on the shared goal and that goes well beyond a difference of strategic opinion.” 

“For the future of our country I support and pray Ron DeSantis is our 47th president,” he added. 

Jankowski’s resignation, first reported by the New York Times, comes after a heated Never Back Down strategy meeting last week – focused on countering former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s rise in popularity – during which Never Back Down board member and DeSantis confidante Scott Wagner reportedly had to be physically restrained from going after one of the group’s political consultants, Jeff Roe, the founder of Axiom Strategies. 

Jankowski said the group’s goal of getting DeSantis into the White House has become “untenable” in the current environment.AP

Wagner and Roe did not respond to The Post’s request for comment on the tense meeting, which was first reported by NBC News. 

The Florida governor and his wife, Casey DeSantis, have grown increasingly frustrated with Never Back Down’s leadership, according to the outlet.

The super PAC is no longer running ads in Iowa amid concerns that voters too easily connect Never Back Down to DeSantis and their spots are actually hurting the governor, the report notes. 

DeSantis has reportedly grown frustrated with Never Back Down’s leadership.ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

At the couple’s urging, a new DeSantis-aligned super PAC – Fight Right Inc. – was launched earlier this week, and the group – seeded with $1 million in funding from Never Back Down – is already running attack ads in Iowa comparing Haley to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Haley has vaulted past DeSantis in two early primary states, polling ahead of the Sunshine State governor by 11 points in New Hampshire and by more than 8 points in South Carolina, according to a RealClearPolitics average of surveys. 

DeSantis remains in second place in Iowa – where he has received the endorsements of Hawkeye State Gov. Kim Reynolds and Christian evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats – but he trails former President Donald Trump by nearly 30 points and his lead over Haley has dwindled to 3 points, according to RealClearPolitics. 

An Emerson College poll released Wednesday showed Trump increasing his national lead by five points since last month – 64% – and Haley, at 9%, moving ahead of DeSantis, who sits at 8%. The same survey pegged both Haley and DeSantis at 8% support last month.