Former Florida

Gov. Jeb Bush, whose bid for the presidency was derailed by eventual winner Donald Trump, says it’s unlikely he will run for office again.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose bid for the presidency was derailed by businessman and eventual winner Donald Trump, says it’s unlikely he’ll ever run for office again.

Bush, who is spending two weeks at Texas A&M University in College Station teaching a course on the role of governors, said he’s focused on building up his business again and working with the foundation he created to push for changes in education policy.

“I unraveled everything I was doing to prepare for this — you don’t do that lightly,” he said Thursday. “I just think this was my chance. The conditions of this election weren’t tailor made for me, and I lost. But I’m not in therapy. I’m not in the fetal position. Life goes on.”

Bush, who was Florida’s governor from 1999 to 2007, is also dismissive of a return to the Governor’s Mansion. Under Florida’s Constitution Bush could run again for that office.

“It’s the best job in the world, but look, I’m not inclined to do it,” he said.

When Bush, the son of former president George H.W. Bush and brother of former president George W. Bush, jumped into the race for the Republican nomination in 2015, he was initially viewed as the front runner. He quickly raised millions of dollars. But he encountered stiff resistance winning over GOP voters ready to embrace a political outsider like Trump. He ended his bid for the White House after a disappointing finish in the South Carolina primary.

Since his defeat, Bush has rejoined the foundation he created to push for changes in education policy that often draws opposition from teacher unions and Democrats.

Last month, the Pittsburghbased law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney announced that Bush will act as a strategic consultant to the firm and its clients.

His consulting firm, Jeb Bush & Associates will focus primarily on Florida. “I can’t be unemployed forever,” he said.