DeSantis scores a point in Haley fight with backing from former Koch network official

A Former Koch network operative, who rejected Americans for Prosperity’s endorsement of former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley for the Republican presidential nominating contest, has joined the main super PAC supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).

Chris Maidment, the former New Hampshire director of grassroots operations for Americans for Prosperity, announced on Friday that he will serve as Never Back Down’s New Hampshire political director.

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“Ron DeSantis is the candidate in the best position and has the track record of success to get this done,” Maidment said in announcing his new job. “Nikki Haley represents the failed past of cronyism, foreign intervention, and appeasing the progressive machine.”

A little over a week ago, the powerful political network founded by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch endorsed Haley. As she continues to battle the Florida governor for second place — both candidates are miles behind former President Donald Trump — the endorsement could boost her in key states such as Iowa.

Maidment said he was terminated after publicly slamming the national conservative group for its endorsement, calling her foreign policy stance “totally sideways” in relation to Americans for Prosperity and criticized her as “anti-free speech.”

“In tweeting this I give up friends, family, and a job. I give up a lot. But for the right reasons,” Maidment said.

With less than six weeks before the Iowa caucuses and 46 days until the New Hampshire primaries, DeSantis’s top super PAC has undergone several changes, firing its top officials.

Never Back Down CEO Kristin Davison was fired on Saturday, only nine days after she took over for former CEO Chris Jankowski, who resigned, a source told the Washington Examiner this week.

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Erin Perrine, former communications director for the group, and Matthew Palmisano, its former director of operations, were also allegedly fired over the weekend.

“Voters are ready to turn the page from the past. But more than just the last eight years, Republicans are ready to turn the page on failed interventionist foreign policies, cronyism, and appeasement of progressive policies that keep Americans down,” Maidment said in announcing his new job. “