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John Morgan (Florida)
| John Morgan | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | Morgan & Morgan |
| Role: | Partner |
| Location: | Orlando, Florida |
| Expertise: | Attorney |
| Education: | • University of Florida (B.A., 1978) • University of Florida (J.D., 1982) |
John Morgan is a lawyer and co-founder of the personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan, which is based in Orlando, Florida.[1]
Biography
In 1988, Morgan co-founded Morgan & Morgan, a law firm based in Orlando, Florida. The mission of the firm is "to ensure that no one—no matter their background or financial means—gets outmatched in the courtroom by powerful corporations and insurance companies."[2] Morgan & Morgan, which employed three attorneys in 1988, employed over 1,000 attorneys in all 50 states as of October 2025.[2][1] As of 2025, Morgan had an "AV" rating from the lawyer database and services firm Martindale-Hubbell, which indicated "the highest peer rating standard."[3][4]
Morgan published two books, You Can't Teach Hungry: Creating the Multimillion Dollar Law Firm (2011) and You Can’t Teach Vision: The Twenty-First Century Law Firm (2015).[2]
Morgan served on the board of trustees for the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. Morgan also served on the board of the Florida Justice Association, Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, and the Harmony Institute.[2] He was on the National Finance Committee for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1996.[5]
In 1986, Morgan established Boys Town U.S.A. Central Florida. The organization, based in Nebraska, was founded to help children in need through support and services.[6][2]
Work and activities
Ballot measure activity
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details John Morgan's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for John Morgan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| Florida Amendment 2, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (2020) | 2020 | Supported |  Approved
|
| Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016) | 2016 | Supported | Approved
|
| Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014) | 2014 | Supported |  Defeated
|
Florida Amendment 2, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (2020)
John Morgan filed a ballot initiative to increase Florida's minimum wage to $15 over the course of six years. Morgan was the chairperson of the campaign behind the ballot initiative—Florida for a Fair Wage.[7] Morgan, explaining his position on the minimum wage, said, "In life, I think that you’re supposed to do the most, for the most with the least," adding that "I did [the ballot initiative] in a way that would be business-friendly, and not just throw them in the deep end."[8] The initiative received 60.82 percent of the vote in the November 3, 2020 election, which exceeded the state's 60 percent threshold for passage.
Florida Amendment 2 (2016)
People United for Medical Marijuana collected signatures to place an initiative to legalize medical marijuana on the ballot for November 8, 2016. On the ballot as Amendment 2, the initiative received 71 percent of the vote, which exceeded the state's 60 percent threshold for passage.[9] John Morgan's Morgan & Morgan firm provided $2.74 million to People United for Medical Marijuana in 2015 and 2016.[10][11]
Florida Amendment 2 (2014)
Morgan served as chairperson of People United for Medical Marijuana, a political action committee. In 2014, People United for Medical Marijuana campaigned in support of Florida Amendment 2: Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative. The amendment needed a 60 percent vote to pass but received 58 percent. Morgan said he was involved in the campaign because of his brother Tim Morgan, a quadriplegic. He said, "His pain is unbelievable. At one point, they had him on seven Xanax to control his spasms and pain. But marijuana alleviates the pain, takes care of the spasms, and so in the back of my mind, as I've gone through this whole deal, I keep thinking, 'my brother Tim.'"[12] The Morgan Law Firm provided $3.57 million to People United for Medical Marijuana, and John Morgan provided an additional $250,000.[10]
Support and opposition of candidates
2020 presidential election
- See also: Presidential election, 2020
John Morgan endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden (D) for president ahead of the 2020 Democratic primaries. Morgan said, "It’s paramount in my opinion that he’s the nominee. He’s the most decent man I’ve ever met in politics."[13]
2018 Florida gubernatorial election
John Morgan endorsed Andrew Gillum (D) in the gubernatorial election on November 6, 2018.[14]
2016 presidential election
- See also: Democratic National Convention, 2016
John Morgan, when asked about the upcoming Democratic National Convention and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's presence at the convention, said, "[i]f she speaks, she’s going to be booed." Morgan's comments came after emails were leaked regarding Wasserman Schultz's opposition to presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Morgan further stated, "[t]he Sanders people have a right to be angry because these emails convey their worst suspicions—that Wasserman Schultz is to Democratic dirty tricks what Richard Nixon was for Republican dirty tricks."[15]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
Noteworthy events
Debbie Wasserman Schultz emails
In 2015, Politico reported that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, allegedly offered to change her stance on medical marijuana if John Morgan would cease attacking her. Morgan responded to this offer by stating, "No, she is a bully. I beat bullies up for a living." Morgan then said that he forwarded the email exchange to Politico to demonstrate how transactional it was in nature.[16]
Following this exchange, Wasserman Schultz denied the claim that she offered to change her position in exchange for a cease-fire. She said, "I wouldn't change my position in exchange for support under any circumstances — ever. I'm always very proud to stand in front of my constituents and explain when I have a difference of opinion with them."[17]
Change in partisan affiliation
On November 24, 2017, John Morgan announced that he was leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an independent. On Twitter, he said, "I can’t muster enthusiasm for any of today’s politicians. They are all the same. Both parties. I 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."[18]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms John Morgan Florida. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- What is an influencer?
- Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014)
- Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016)
- Florida Amendment 2, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (2020)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Morgan & Morgan, "Who We Are," accessed October 2, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Morgan and Morgan, "John Morgan," accessed October 2, 2025
- ↑ Martindale-Hubbell, "Morgan & Morgan," accessed October 2, 2025
- ↑ Martindale-Hubbell, "FAQs," accessed October 2, 2025
- ↑ Washington Post, "New pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC attracts donors and worries," June 21, 2013
- ↑ Orlando Magazine, "50 Most Powerful People – John Morgan," July 2, 2019
- ↑ Florida Politics, "John Morgan: Florida should raise minimum wage because right now workers are paid ‘slave wages’," September 27, 2019
- ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "John Morgan says he has signatures for 2020 minimum wage measure," July 24, 2019
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpol - ↑ 10.0 10.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Campaign Finance Activity," accessed October 2, 2025
- ↑ CBS Miami, "Fundraising Slows In Medical Marijuana Battle," July 5, 2016
- ↑ WUSF, "FL Supreme Court OKs Medical Marijuana for Ballot," January 27, 2014
- ↑ Orlando Sentinel, "John Morgan praises Jesus, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis," November 10, 2019
- ↑ Florida Politics, "John Morgan posts video endorsing Andrew Gillum, mainly over marijuana," October 12, 2018
- ↑ Politico, "Wasserman Schultz steps down as DNC chair," July 24, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Debbie's damage control," February 19, 2015
- ↑ Sun Sentinel, "Wasserman Schultz disputes claim she offered to shift position on medical marijuana," February 20, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "John Morgan: I'm leaving Democratic party, Nelson should run for governor," November 24, 2017
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