A third Koch-backed AFP Action staffer joins DeSantis super PAC after Haley endorsement

Chris Maidment, a former director of grassroots operations for Americans for Prosperity in New Hampshire, announced on Friday he is joining Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis‘s (R-FL) presidential campaign after the group endorsed former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley for president late last month.

Maidment is at least the third staffer at AFP Action, connected to the conservative billionaire Koch family, to defect to the DeSantis super PAC this month, another sign of the internal disruption the Haley endorsement has caused.

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“With 46 days remaining before the NH Primary, I’m excited to announce I’m joining the great team at Never Back Down as Political Director for New Hampshire and look forward to expanding on their efforts to help elect @RonDeSantis,” Maidment wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Friday morning.

Maidment was terminated from AFP Action last week after he posted a social media thread on X disparaging the Haley endorsement. He once again reiterated his disdain for Haley during his Friday morning post. “Ron DeSantis is the candidate in the best position and has the track record of success to get this done,” Maidment continued. “Nikki Haley represents the failed past of cronyism, foreign intervention, and appeasing the progressive machine.”

Staffers at the Koch-affiliated group expressed disagreement and pushed back against endorsing Haley, citing her foreign policy stance was at odds with the group and expressing some doubt she could credibly defeat former President Donald Trump for the nomination.

Earlier this week, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to the Washington Examiner that two grassroots directors in Iowa working for AFP Action were now working for Never Back Down’s Iowa political team due to their disapproval of the Haley endorsement.

“Never Back Down is happy to welcome these newest members of our growing team, and we look forward to welcoming others who see Nikki Haley as the establishment rubber stamp she is and want to support a real conservative leader — Governor Ron DeSantis,” Noah Jennings, Never Back Down’s Iowa political director, said in a statement at the time.

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AFP Action sought to downplay the defections on Wednesday, telling the Washington Examiner that the group has heard from several people who were “excited” about the endorsement and wanted to work to aid Haley’s 2024 campaign.

“This is primary season, and with a grassroots organization as large as AFP Action, it’s not unusual at all to see some individuals move to different campaigns or pursue other opportunities,” an AFP Action official said. “But AFP Action has also heard from a number of people excited about our endorsement and interested in ways they can join our team and help the effort — including people who work on behalf of the same campaigns pushing this narrative. Since our endorsement, we’ve added more than 120 new volunteers and are contacting more voters than before.”