Real estate developer Jeff Greene is tossing his hat into the ring – officially.
Greene filed paperwork on Friday declaring his Democratic candidacy for governor of Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times. In 2010, he spent $23 million in an unsuccessful effort to win the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, losing to Kendrick Meek. The West Palm developer would likely spend millions of his own money on his campaign. Forbes pegs his net worth at $3.8 billion.
Greene is joining a crowded race for governor. Candidates include Chris King of Winter Park, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.
Patrick Murphy, a vice president at his family’s Coastal Construction, is still reportedly considering joining the race, also as a Democrat.
Greene, who has a number of projects in the pipeline for Palm Beach County, made hundreds of millions of dollars betting against subprime mortgage-backed securities before the last financial crisis hit.
In April, the real estate mogul broke ground on a twin-tower development at 550 Quadrille Boulevard. The project calls for a 30-story office, hotel and apartment complex. [Tampa Bay Times] – Katherine Kallergis