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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nMorgan this week teased a potential 2026 run on social media <\/a>, saying \u201cmaybe I should run for Governor\u2026 as an Independent\u201d in response to a recent story <\/a>about Gov. Ron DeSantis touting Florida\u2019s gradual minimum wage hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morgan was the architect of the state\u2019s 2020 initiative to increase Florida\u2019s minimum wage to $15 by 2026 and took issue with DeSantis highlighting it while campaigning in Iowa for the GOP presidential nomination. The Republican Florida governor opposed it several years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is hilarious. And why we despise most politicians,\u201d he posted on X, formerly Twitter. \u201c@GovRonDeSantis fought me tooth and nail along with his usual suspects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn\u2019t Morgan\u2019s first time floating a potential run for governor. During the 2018 election cycle, Morgan weighed \u2014 but ultimately turned down \u2014 a run for the Democratic nomination, saying at the time that <\/a>\u201cI can\u2019t muster the enthusiasm to run for the nomination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added: \u201cI plan to register as an Independent and when I vote, vote for the lesser of two evils. And if I ever ran, run as an Independent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morgan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morgan has widespread name recognition in the state, in part because of television ads for his legal practice that have dominated the airwaves in Florida for years. He\u2019s also spearheaded several successful ballot initiatives, including one legalizing medical marijuana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite being two years away, the field for the 2026 gubernatorial race is already taking shape since DeSantis is in his second term and can\u2019t run again. Florida GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds are both expected to mount a bid <\/a>, though Gaetz regularly denies that he\u2019s interested. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nu\u00f1ez and Attorney General Ashley Moody, both Republicans, have also been discussed as potential candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the Democratic side <\/a>, state Sen. Shevrin Jones of Miami Gardens has said he\u2019s weighing a bid, as is Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morgan this week also suggested that if he ran, he\u2019d want former NBA star Grant Hill, who lives in Central Florida, to be his running mate. Hill\u2019s name was previously floated as a possible candidate <\/a>to run against Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who is up for reelection in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morgan has supported Hill\u2019s candidacy, telling the Orlando Sentinel <\/a>last year that \u201ca beloved celebrity makes a much better candidate than some political hack, especially when as smart and charismatic as Grant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether Morgan is serious about a run this time is yet to be seen, but he already suggested that if he was elected, he\u2019d ensure that the Florida Legislature meet every two years instead of annually <\/a>because \u201cevery time these folks get together they fuck the people over for the benefit of a few powerful interests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also hinted that, not surprisingly, he wouldn\u2019t be a typical elected official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n