Dan Bongino for Senate in 2016?

Conservative leader Dan Bongino, an ally of former U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., opened the door to running for the U.S. Senate in 2016.

With state CFO Jeff Atwater again closing the door to a Senate run on Thursday, Bongino hinted to the Shark Tank that he could run in either 2016 or 2018. Earlier this year, Bongino looked at running for the U.S. House seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., in 2016 but decided not to run. 

A former New York City cop and Secret Service agent, Bongino was the Republican candidate who challenged U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., in 2012. Cardin routed Bongino, taking 55 percent while the Republican won only 27 percent of the vote and independent Rob Sobhani carried 17 percent.

Later, Bongino shocked the political world and almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the election cycle when he lost to U.S. Rep. John Delaney, D-Md., by a narrow margin in a district where the Democrats have the advantage.

Since then, Bongino and his family moved from Maryland to Palm City on Florida's Treasure Coast.