Republican Drops Out Of Race For Michigan Governor

Republican Tom Leonard announced Thursday morning that he is dropping out of the race for Michigan governor.

Leonard, of DeWitt, launched his campaign last summer. He said the campaign focused on holding the public service commission accountable to the people instead of the utilities, confronting the rise of AI data centers, tackling the auto insurance system and improving the reading crisis.

However, he said the current political climate does not reward that kind of campaign, adding the race has been "increasingly negative" lately.

"Over the past several weeks, this race has gotten increasingly negative," Leonard said. "And sadly, the system rewards sound bites over substance, theater over seriousness and personal attacks over real policy debate.

The former Speaker of the House added, "Every time we drag fellow Republicans through the mud, we make all our jobs harder in November."

Leonard's poll numbers remained in the single digits since launching his campaign.

Leonard's withdrawal now leaves five Republicans vying for the nomination, including Congressman John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, businessman Perry Johnson, Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt and pastor Ralph Rebandt.

Democratic candidates include current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and auditor Kim Thomas.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent.