Ex-roommate abandons DeSantis in latest high-level campaign resignation

Adam Laxalt — one of Ron DeSantis' closest friends as well as the chair of his Never Back Down PAC ¸— has resigned, reportedThe New York Times on Friday.

Laxalt, the former Attorney General of Nevada who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in that state last year, is a longtime friend of DeSantis. The two of them were roommates while DeSantis was training as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

“After nearly 26 straight months of being in a full-scale campaign, I need to return my time and attention to my family and law practice,” wrote Laxalt to the Never Back Down board in a letter.

This is the second major departure from Never Back Down in recent weeks. The group's chief executive Chris Jankowski also stepped down, citing strategic differences in vision without detailing any specifics.

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It also comes amid heightened scrutiny on Never Back Down amid reports that the group, which is barred by law from officially coordinating with the DeSantis campaign, paid for the governor's private flights.

DeSantis, once considered by many GOP megadonors and Beltway strategists as a strong alternative to re-nominating former President Donald Trump and competitive in many early polls, has been sliding with voters for months, with recent polling aggregations showing Trump topping the field by almost 50 points and DeSantis in danger of losing second place to former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

DeSantis tried to boost his public profile this week in a highly-publicized Fox News debate on Republican versus Democratic state governance with California Gov. Gavin Newsom moderated by Sean Hannity.