High-profile Florida attorney and political megadonor John Morgan has officially unveiled the name of the new political party he hopes will shake up America’s two-party system, arguing that millions of voters have been left politically homeless by both Republicans and Democrats.
Morgan, the founder of the Morgan & Morgan law firm, announced Wednesday that his new movement will be called the Common Ground Party, while its members will be known as “Grounders.” The announcement comes after a nationwide contest that generated more than 35,000 submissions from Americans competing for a $100,000 prize to name the organization. More than 250 people independently submitted the winning entry and will split the prize, according to Morgan.
“It was a great exercise,” Morgan said on X. “What it showed me is that you, like me, believe our political system is broken. That we really agree on more than we disagree on, yet nothing ever gets done.”
Morgan said the next step is turning the concept into an actual political organization by registering voters under the new party banner.
“We will try to start registering people for the party,” he said.
The announcement marks the latest chapter in Morgan’s increasingly public break with America’s traditional political establishment.
Earlier this year, the billionaire attorney ended months of speculation by announcing he would not seek Florida’s open governor’s seat, saying he believed launching a new political movement would have a greater long-term impact than serving in elected office.
Morgan has argued that partisan warfare has paralyzed Washington and many state governments, leaving practical solutions trapped between ideological extremes.
“I believe what ails us is the two-party system,” Morgan previously said while announcing the effort. “Most of us agree on most things, but if you put the D up and the R up, nothing ever gets done.”
The attorney is hardly a political newcomer.
Long associated with Democrat causes, Newsmax noted Morgan spent years as one of Florida’s most influential political donors before distancing himself from the party and registering with no party affiliation. He also poured millions into successful statewide ballot initiatives that legalized medical marijuana and raised Florida’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, giving him a reputation as one of the state’s most effective political financiers.
While Morgan insists his new party is aimed at voters “stuck in the middle,” conservatives are likely to view the effort with skepticism.
Republicans have steadily strengthened their grip on Florida under Gov. Ron DeSantis, transforming what was once the nation’s largest swing state into one where the GOP now enjoys sizable voter registration advantages and controls every statewide elected office. Political observers note that despite periodic bursts of enthusiasm, third-party movements have historically struggled to overcome ballot-access hurdles, fundraising challenges and the winner-take-all nature of American elections.
Morgan, however, believes his name recognition, personal fortune and outsider message can give the Common Ground Party a better chance than most previous third-party efforts.
According to Morgan, the party is intended for “common-sense people making common-sense decisions” and will seek to find areas where Americans can agree rather than deepen partisan divisions.
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