Orlando attorney and Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan announced he will not be running for Florida governor in a video statement this week.
"There was really one way I would do it: if someone entered the race that I really had a problem with, and I don't think that's going to happen. So my decision is this: I am not going to run for governor of Florida," Morgan said. "All the people who've called me, all the people who've asked me to do, I thank you for believing in me."
Morgan's decision comes despite running two successful ballot measures supporting medical marijuana and lifting the state's minimum wage, which he says influenced supporters of his to run for governor.
But Morgan, while gracious, indicated that wasn't the only factor.
"As a result of those two constitutional amendments and their success, people started talking to me about running for governor. Here's the thing: time marches on, and then you've got to think, how much energy do I have left in my tank?" Morgan questioned.
Morgan, 70, said he made his decision at his home in Maui, Hawaii, this winter.
"I do believe that my constitutional amendments, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and legalizing medical marijuana, has been more impactful than anything any governor has ever done, so I'm satisfied," Morgan said.
Morgan considered running for governor of Florida as a Democrat in 2018, but in the lead-up said he couldn't "muster the enthusiasm to run for the nomination."
He also did not run for governor in 2022.
However, Morgan is not done with politics. The popular attorney, arguably best known for his Morgan and Morgan law firm "For the People" commercials on television, indicated he would be rolling out paperwork for a third party in Florida.
And you get to name it and win $100K.
"I'm going to have a contest for you all to name it. I'm going to pay the winner of the contest $100,000," Morgan said. "So, be thinking of your name."
Morgan has hinted at forming a new party in the past.
"I believe that what ails us is the two-party system. Most of us agree on most things, but if you put the D up and the R up, nothing gets done," Morgan added.
