Gabrielle Russon
Lawyer John Morgan has picked The Common Ground Party as the winning name for the independent third party he is launching.
In April, Morgan announced a contest with a $100,000 prize to come up with a name for his new political party as he expressed frustrations at both Democrats and Republicans.
“Whether this works or not, I don’t know. But it’s worth a try to undo the gridlock, the hate, and all of the meanness that has fallen into politics on all sides,” Morgan said on X.
People who register with the Common Ground Party will be dubbed “Grounders,” Morgan said.
More than 35,000 people suggested their political party name picks, with some ideas that were “very, very good” while other entities were “very, very crazy,” Morgan said.
“Going forward, we’re going to start trying to register people to join our party,” Morgan said. “It was a great exercise and what it showed me is that you, like me, believe our political system is broken, that we really agree on more than we don’t disagree on.”
Morgan did not release the winner’s name, but alluded to multiple people picking the winning entry who would split the $100,000 grand prize.
Morgan has been politically active by helping lead successful constitutional amendments to legalize medical marijuana and increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
He said he has no plans to run for Governor despite hearing from supporters that he should jump into the race this November.
“I’m not going to do it because Mother Time is getting away from me. I do like living in Hawaii,” Morgan said on social media in April. “I do like my marijuana and I do like spending time with my grandchildren. So I’m getting ready to take my coat and tie off.”
Instead, he said he hoped his contest would kick-start an independent party movement in Florida.
