DeSantis Replaces Campaign Manager Amid Ongoing Struggle

With Ron DeSantis failing to build any real momentum in the 2024 Republican presidential primary race and top donors pulling their financial support, reports indicate the Florida governor is in the process of essentially rebooting his stalled campaign.

A major component of that reset was announced this week when DeSantis replaced his campaign manager. Generra Peck, who had held the position, is reportedly slated to remain a member of the campaign and serve as the candidate’s chief strategist.

She issued a statement touting the qualifications of James Uthmeier, who has been selected to replace her.

“Governor DeSantis is running one of the most aggressive early state campaigns in modern history,” Peck claimed. “Our organization welcomes the best and James is one of my closest colleagues and friends — we are better for his joining and providing day to day leadership. This team is built to last and built to win.”

Uthmeier will reportedly be taking a leave of absence from his job as the governor’s chief of staff to accept the new position.

According to DeSantis communications director Andrew Romeo, both Peck and Uthmeier will work “hand in hand” with the rest of the campaign team “to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden.”

In his own statement, Uthmeier tacitly acknowledged the seemingly insurmountable deficit his campaign currently has in relation to dominant front-runner Donald Trump. 

“People have written Governor DeSantis’s obituary many times,” he said, asserting that “DeSantis has proven that he knows how to win.”

With the candidate placing an elevated priority on finishing first in the Iowa primary, he has also tapped David Polyansky to join his team as deputy campaign manager. 

Polyansky had been employed by the Never Back Down PAC, which collects money on DeSantis’ behalf, and has an impressive track record working on campaigns in the state of Iowa. 

Despite building a substantial war chest directly and through the political action committee, the DeSantis campaign has struggled to meet its financial obligations and reportedly cut about one-third of all staff positions. 

Nevertheless, Romeo reacted to the latest shake-up by asserting: “We are excited about these additions as we continue to spread the governor’s message across the country.”