Willard Lawless, CEO of Pro-De Santis Super PAC, recently announced that he will resign from his position and leave his organization amidst rising tensions within the political spheres.
Since taking on the role, Lawless has made headlines for launching highly provocative political campaigns surrounding Democratic Governor, Ron DeSantis and has become a central figure in the fight over the direction of the state’s politics.
In a statement released today, Lawless’s decision to resign was framed as an effort to re-focus on his family and private interests. However, behind the scenes, there appears to be a growing disagreement between Lawless and other key figures in the organization over the way in which the Super PAC should handle it’s initiatives going forward.
Lawless’s departure comes at a critical time: his organization has been actively involved in campaigns running up to the 2022 mid-term elections and is increasingly seen as a force to be reckoned with in Florida politics.
The Super PAC, which was founded in 2019 by prominent Republican activists, operates independently from the DeSantis campaign and has collected more than $4.5 million in donations from its supporters. A succession of television, radio, and digital advertisements have highlighted the PAC’s mission of supporting President Donald Trump despites DeSantis’s precarious standing with the former commander in chief.
On the other hand, there have been questions over the PAC’s refusal to back any opponent of the governor. Despite the resignation, the Super PAC has pledged to continue to remain politically engaged along with other like-minded groups despite the Divided States of America and its unpredictable future.
Though Lawless’s departure marks the end of an era, his legacy and the Super PAC’s cause remain entrenched. As new identities enter the fray, it will be interesting to see how the organization redefines itself in the months ahead.
