--- title: Likely Jeb Bush Campaign Manager Steps Back from Gay Marriage Advocacy description: A decision to shift roles in advance of the presidential campaign canonical: https://time.com/3736236/jeb-bush-david-kochel/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-03-07T14:06:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:05:10.398Z article:section: Politics og:title: Likely Jeb Bush Campaign Manager Steps Back from Gay Marriage Advocacy og:description: A decision to shift roles in advance of the presidential campaign og:url: https://time.com/3736236/jeb-bush-david-kochel/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd004c3ae5e493830/6987817706f2c10a2d334378/fullsizerender11.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Jeb Bush speaks at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Likely Jeb Bush Campaign Manager Steps Back from Gay Marriage Advocacy twitter:description: A decision to shift roles in advance of the presidential campaign twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd004c3ae5e493830/6987817706f2c10a2d334378/fullsizerender11.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Likely Jeb Bush Campaign Manager Steps Back from Gay Marriage Advocacy ## Video: Jeb Bush: 'I Am My Own Man' [Watch (HLS stream): Jeb Bush: 'I Am My Own Man'](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/xQD7X5yR.m3u8) (1:14)  _Published 2015-02-18. Jeb Bush: 'I Am My Own Man'_ by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Mar 7, 2015 2:06 PM UTC  Jeb Bush speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. Jeb Bush speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015.Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Mar 7, 2015 2:06 PM UTC David Kochel, the campaign manager-designate for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, has stepped back from his outspoken role in support of same-sex marriage as he prepares to lead the presidential campaign. Kochel, an Iowa-based veteran of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns, signed a Supreme Court friend of the court brief when justices overturned California’s gay marriage ban in 2013\. But this week Kochel’s name was off the list when more than 300 Republicans [signed](http://time.com/3734626/gay-marriage-supreme-court-republicans/) another amicus brief this week in support of legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. In an email to TIME, Kochel, who is currently working for Bush’s Right to Rise PAC, said he was stepping back from his public role. “In my full time role at the PAC, I have decided not to sign advocacy petitions of any kind,” he said. After the 2012 election, many former Romney aides, including Kochel, joined Republican operatives and a handful of congressional lawmakers in signing the amicus brief. Kochel spoke openly about the issue in local and national news interviews. TIME reported on the full list of amicus signers on Thursday. Among those who dropped off between 2013 and 2015 were actor and director Clint Eastwood and former Romney advisor Ben Ginsberg. It was not clear why they did not sign on once again. In an interview Thursday, Ken Mehlman, who organized both amici briefs, declined to comment on conversations with potential signers. A staunch social conservative who supported a federal constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman, Bush has long been opposed to same-sex marriage. But after a court cleared the way for such unions in his home state, Bush urged “[respect](http://time.com/3654939/jeb-bush-urges-respect-for-florida-gay-marriage-ruling-but-declines-specifics/)” from all sides. Bush consultant Mike Murphy, who is expected to remain a part of the Right to Rise Super PAC, as opposed to joining the presidential campaign directly, signed the amicus brief. ### Behind the Scenes of CPAC  Peter Dudziak of John, Minnesota attends CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2014. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Nine year old Thomas H. from Virginia at his first CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Sarah Palin at the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor, MD on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Dr. Ben Carson gives a speech to open Thursday's session at CPAC in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Timothy Flynn from New York City poses in an American flag jacket at CPAC in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Rick Santorum takes a selfie with a supporter at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  A Rand Paul supporter at CPAC in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Rand Paul speaks at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Sen. Ted Cruz shakes hands with a Sarah Palin supporter at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  A reporter asks attendees to choose their favorite candidate at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  CPAC attendees listen to Donald Trump in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Jeb Bush speaks at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gives a thumb's up at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  A supporter poses with a life-size cutout of Rand Paul at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker at CPAC in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson greets supporters at CPAC in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Former Republican Governor of Texas Rick Perry at CPAC in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Buttons for past Republican campaigns on display at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 26, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Supporters watch Rand Paul speak at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Donald Trump signs a Playboy magazine at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Attendees applaud at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. on Feb. 27, 2015. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  An empty room ready for the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 26, 2015. 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