Jacob Ogles
Gov. Ron DeSantis is reshuffling the leadership of his presidential campaign.
The campaign confirmed to Florida Politics that James Uthmeier, previously the Governor’s Chief of Staff in his official state capacity, will move over to lead the political operation. He replaces Generra Peck as Campaign Manager. Peck will remain with the campaign in a new role.
“James Uthmeier has been one of Gov. DeSantis’ top advisors for years and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the Governor in the best possible position to win this Primary and defeat Joe Biden,” said Andrew Romeo, the DeSantis campaign’s Communications Director.
The Messenger first reported Peck would no longer serve as Campaign Manager but would remain as chief strategist.
Uthmeier first came on as DeSantis’ Chief of Staff in 2021. He served before that as the Governor’s General Counsel, and had been part of the legal team in the Executive Office of the Governor since 2019.
Peck previously managed DeSantis’ successful re-election campaign in Florida. DeSantis in November defeated Democrat Charlie Crist by a landslide 19 percentage points to secure a second term.
The change comes after weeks of campaign shake-ups, including the shedding of 38 positions in late July. Peck had come under fire from donors and pundits as financial reports showed the campaign spending rapidly while slipping in GOP polls. Meanwhile, DeSantis remains a distant second to Donald Trump in polls of Republican Primary voters.
But the DeSantis campaign stressed forward momentum, including staff additions in one early state.
The campaign hired David Polyansky, who previously worked for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa as a campaign strategist, to help the campaign in Iowa. The state will hold the first-in-the-nation caucuses for the GOP presidential nomination, and DeSantis’ campaign has focused significant energy on the Hawkeye State. Polyansky previously worked for the Never Back Down super PAC supporting DeSantis.
“David Polyansky will also be a critical addition to the team given his presidential campaign experience in Iowa and work at Never Back Down,” Romeo said. “We are excited about these additions as we continue to spread the Governor’s message across the country. It’s time to reverse our nation’s decline and revive America’s future.”
25 comments
PeterH
August 8, 2023 at 11:33 am
James Uthmeier could be DeSantis’s twin brother! Sorry but shuffling the Klown seats on the DeSantis Titanic will not reverse the 20 years of failed Republican leadership in the State of Florida that Americans are observing!
Dont Say FLA
August 8, 2023 at 11:34 am
I’ll start, and then you take over Rhonda.
“I should not be left to my own devices
They come with prices and vices
I end up in crisis
(Tale as old as time)
I wake up screaming from dreaming
One day, I’ll watch as you’re leaving
‘Cause you got tired of my scheming
(For the last time)”
Ok Rhonda your turn. SING IT RHONDA
Rhondas Panties
August 8, 2023 at 12:18 pm
“It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me
It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me
It’s me, h
Everybody agrees, everybody agrees
I’m the problem
I’m, I’m, I’m the problem, it’s
I’m the problem (I’ll stare directly at the sun)
I’m, I’m the problem, it’s (but never in the mirror)
I’m the problem
I’m, I’m, I’m the problem, it’s
I’m the problem
I’m the problem, it’s
It’s me, hi (hi), I’m the problem, it’s me (I’m the problem, it’s me)
At tea (tea) time (time), everybody agrees (everybody hates Rhonda)”
Resign to Run
August 8, 2023 at 11:49 am
So, uh, did James Uthmeier bother resigning to run the Rhonda campaign, or do they identify as being exempt from Resign to Run like Rhonda? Whatever happens with Rhonda’s campaign with James Uthmeier at its helm, at least we can rest assured Rhonda and Casey will be very well protected from gay wedding cakes.
Michael K
August 8, 2023 at 11:51 am
I don’t think it is a good-run campaign.
It's The Material
August 8, 2023 at 11:55 am
The campaign staff could be the best on the planet.
Nevertheless, they are stuck with candidate Ron DeSantis.
Polish, meet your new turd. A turd named Rhonda.
RonaldBeGone…ald
August 8, 2023 at 11:59 am
Best campaign manager in the world couldn’t get this turd to float. His political career is thankfully over.
Michael K
August 8, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Yes, but when you are Mrs or Mr Rhionda, it is always someone else’s fault that you are a turd.
Well Positioned
August 8, 2023 at 11:53 am
After that last round of throats slit at the DeSantis campaign, Ron announced that he was well positioned to catch Trump and beat Biden.
Was Ron wrong? Given bad information? Lying? Deluded, perhaps?
What is wrong with Ron? It almost feels as if everyone, you know, hates him.
RonaldBeGone…ald
August 8, 2023 at 12:02 pm
The only thing worse than a true MAGAt is a Try Hard MAGAt. This guy is the proof we needed that the “movement” was never more than a bad BM. Let’s flush and get on with repairing all the damage they’ve done.
Ron DiSaster
August 8, 2023 at 12:01 pm
It’s not the campaign manager, it’s the candidate.
Ron DeSantis is an unlikeable piece of trash, and the rest of the country sees that.
DeSantis will never be president
August 8, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Too little, too late. He’s toast.
Gaycakes James
August 8, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Ron brought in a guy known for his work on gay cakes?
Ron seems… confused. Lost. Adrift. At Sea. Not Sea.
My Take
August 8, 2023 at 9:45 pm
And a bit Nazi.
My Take
August 8, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Will moRon and Crazy possibly blame each other?
Dont Say FLA
August 8, 2023 at 12:33 pm
It’s inevitable, imo. CaCa CaCa Casey wants Elon to be her new little Chia Pet. Rhonda’s campaign was designed (by Casey) to fail, to release her from Rhonda, but in a sympathetic (to her) way. IMO. Rhonda blames Casey. Casey hits the road, trying to fall up.
My Take
August 8, 2023 at 9:48 pm
“Poor Casey. See deserves better. “
My Take
August 8, 2023 at 11:40 pm
“Poor Casey. See deserves better. /sniff/“
Apparently if you put something between arrow points it disappears.
Dont Say FLA
August 9, 2023 at 11:56 am
We can be sure of one thing: Jill gets better. As often as she can.
They have a pool at the Gov ~Mansion, right? Tennis instructor? Pickleball perhaps? Secret Service guys? You do have to wonder why she keeps this so-called Presidential campaign going. Some good clock would explain it. Just trans-fer that L from clock to Ron’s win/loss column.
Nex Thyme
August 8, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Shaking isn’t working. Next time, stir the campaign. That’ll work. For sure next time.
Joe
August 8, 2023 at 3:09 pm
So the answer to Tiny D’s flailing campaign is to go EVEN MORE insular? This latest sycophant Uthmeier might as well have gestated in Casey’s marsupial pouch, he’s such a close member of the Desantos inner circle.
My Take
August 8, 2023 at 7:15 pm
Lots of shifting.
Not a hint yet on FAU’s president though.
Dont Say FLA
August 9, 2023 at 11:03 am
How long will Rhonda pretend the campaign is still a going concern before deciding Peck is insulated enough by time to shut it down and blame Fall Guy … Gaycakes James? I dunno what up with “Gaycakes” but I like it. It at least fists his face.
Dont Say FLA
August 9, 2023 at 11:04 am
FITS! It FITS his face. Good job, Freud.
Porky Pig
August 9, 2023 at 3:04 pm
This might be just what we need to get where we need to go! To…
Th th th That’s all, folks!
Comments are closed.