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Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran is arguably the second-most powerful politician in the state. Eyes are on him now to see if he’ll attempt to climb the final step and become the next Governor of Florida.

The Land O’ Lakes Republican has gone on the record saying that he is seriously considering a run in 2018, but with the added caveat that it will only be a run for Governor. Other options, like state Attorney General or U.S. Senator, are off the table.

“Those are the only two choices – governor or not run for office,” he said to the Tampa Bay Times.

Corcoran also mentioned he would not make a final decision until after the 2018 Legislative Session, for which he will remain as the Florida House Speaker.

In Tallahassee and elsewhere, the speaker’s reputation is one he's carefully crafted to match that of a political “disruptor.” Early on in his leadership of the House, he called for ethics reforms that would be “the most transformative in the history of the Florida Legislature.”

His efforts to make government more “accountable” was also one of his greatest shortcomings, given that most of these initiatives fell flat in the face of resistance. One such proposal, which set the tone for his incoming speakership, was a rule to ban "texting while legislating."

Unlike ethics reform, the speaker was successful on passing one of his most prized legislative priorities, HB 7069, a $419 million education bill which is friendly to Florida charter schools. His success is owed, in part, to his sudden partnership with Gov. Rick Scott at the close of session.

Corcoran, who had previously labeled Scott as a “crony capitalist,” helped the governor get his $160 million investment economic development programs across the finish line. The governor then rewarded him with his signature on HB 7069 and an invitation to join him on a victory tour across the state.

A continued alliance with Gov. Scott could pay dividends for a Corcoran gubernatorial run, given Scott’s close relationship with President Donald Trump.

Despite his lack of a final decision, Corcoran opened a new political committee called Watchdog PAC to begin the daunting task of amassing sufficient funds to challenge Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

"If I can't raise the money, I can't raise the money, and if I raise the money and I don't want to run for governor, I don't run for governor. I'll use it for constitutional amendments, I'll use it for helping real conservatives, or I'll turn it over to the (Republican) party," Corcoran also told the Tampa Bay Times.