No Republicans have announced that they'll run to succeed termed-out Florida GOP Gov. Rick Scott next year, though state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam’s huge fundraising doesn’t leave much doubt about his plans. State House Speaker Richard Corcoran has been mentioned as a potential candidate for a while, but until recently, he never publicly expressed interest. However, Corcoran now tells the Tampa Bay Times that he’ll decide on a gubernatorial bid after the 2018 legislative session ends next March.
Corcoran has a very strained relationship with Scott to say the least. In the past few months, Corcoran has worked to abolish Scott's $85 million Enterprise Florida program, which gives out business incentives that the speaker calls "corporate subsidies." The state House has also tried to severely cut Scott's $76 million tourist marketing bureau Visit Florida, which earned some unwanted headlines after the public learned it had secretly paid the rapper Pitbull $1 million to promote the state, including in his "Sexy Beaches" video. Scott has responded by going to the districts of defiant state House members and publicly shamed them, and he's been loudly been feuding with Corcoran in particular.
Scott seems more than ready to take their battle to the ballot box, and an unnamed ally of Scott’s recently told Politico that if the speaker runs to succeed him, Scott will get his buddy Donald Trump “to drop the boom on him at just the right time and ruin his chances with Republicans.” However, Corcoran may have one big asset if he gets in next year. The Times notes that Corcoran is very close to the Koch brothers’ political network, which could help him raise the money he’d need to compete in Florida. State Sen. Jack Latvala and eccentric rich guy Ron Bergeron are also talking about getting in, while Scott is reportedly looking for a wealthy candidate to run.
On the Democratic side, things are starting to come into focus. Days after Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum became the first candidate to announce for this open seat next year, Orlando-area real estate company owner Chris King also joined the primary on Thursday. While King’s father, David King, was the lead attorney in overturning Florida's GOP-drawn congressional map under the state's "Fair Districts" laws, the younger King doesn’t seem to have many political connections. Politico says that King is wealthy, but it’s unclear how much of his own money King can or will spend in what will be a very expensive primary. Ex-Rep. Gwen Graham and Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine both also likely to get in, while wealthy trial attorney John Morgan and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn are also looking at the race.