After teasing a big announcement for this week, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran revealed Wednesday he won’t be joining the race for Governor. Corcoran is instead throwing his support behind Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
Republican Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran reminded reporters several times – for him, it’s been the Governor’s mansion or bust.
“As I said, for the last year or so, we would look to run for governor or go home,” Corcoran said.
Corcoran says his decision to sit the race out boils down to money.
“Florida’s an expensive state. It costs a lot of money to run,” Corcoran said. “We looked at where we were after session, got with my family as I said I would, and I don’t think we had the resources to move forward.”
Corcoran’s decline to join the gubernatorial race makes Putnam and Republican U.S. Congressman Ron DeSantis the clear-cut GOP frontrunners leading into the 2018 primary. Though Corcoran remained steadfast in his assertion he won’t seek a lower state office, Putnam made a vague insinuation that Corcoran will stay politically active.
“Richard Corcoran is not one to stand on the sidelines, to use his own words, and he is the kind of guy who will roll up his sleeves and continue to make a difference,” Putnam told reporters.
During a press gaggle after the announcement, Corcoran said there were statewide offices available to him that he left on the table, adding he would have “hands down been a front runner.”
Corcoran also took a jab at DeSantis’ frequent appearances and mentions on cable news during the presser. Asked about a statement released by the DeSantis just before presser kicked off, Corcoran quipped, “Was it from a studio in New York?”
