Orlando superattorney John Morgan won’t be running for governor after all.
On Thursday, Morgan, who recently left the Democratic Party to become an Independent, seemingly extinguished the possibility of running for office this year.
“People ask if I would ever run as an Independent. No way,” Morgan tweeted. “Independents never win and only act as a spoiler.”
Morgan then wished the other candidates luck in the race, which has only grown on both sides in recent weeks.
“May the best man OR woman win,” Morgan said.
Morgan had long been considered to be a frontrunner among potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates but opened up the possibility of running as a third party candidate when he left the party in November.
“Spent all of Thanksgiving with my whole family,” Morgan wrote. “While it’s amazing to be leading the polls for Governor without being a candidate I can’t muster the enthusiasm to run for the nomination.”
Morgan’s epiphany to leave the party, he said, was spurred from an overall blasé attitude about the state of current politicians.
Both the Republican and the Democratic parties, Morgan said, didn’t offer much to keep him affiliated with any party.
“I can’t muster enthusiasm for any of today’s politicians. They are all the same,” Morgan said. “Both parties.”
The figurehead of a law firm with operations in multiple states, Morgan rose to public prominence in 2014 and in 2016 when he spearheaded a constitutional amendment initiative to expand medical marijuana in Florida.
The widely successful amendment only raised Morgan’s public profile and many polls showed him leading the pack among Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates.
Democrats already have four candidates to choose from — Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, Orlando businessman Chris King and Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine have all formally announced their campaigns.
The Republican list of candidates is also growing. Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam was the first Republican candidate to jump in the race while state Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, has also announced he will be seeking the GOP nomination, though Latvala’s campaign has stalled as a result of allegations he sexually harassed multiple women in Tallahassee.
U.S. Rep. Rob DeSantis, R-Fla., announced his candidacy earlier this month.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, is also rumored to be mulling over a bid, though he has not made a formal announcement yet.
Morgan has also been a prominent fundraiser for the Democratic Party, but it’s uncertain whether he’ll raise money for Dems now that he’s an Independent.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
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