Overview
- Leonard, who announced his decision Thursday morning, ended his GOP bid after calling the race "increasingly negative."
- He said he would not change who he is or how he believes a campaign should be run in order to win, urging Republicans to focus on unity in November.
- His withdrawal leaves five Republicans in the primary: U.S. Rep. John James, former Attorney General Mike Cox, businessman Perry Johnson, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, and pastor Ralph Rebandt.
- The broader field still includes three Democrats—Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, and Kim Thomas—and former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan running as an independent.
- A former Michigan House speaker and Genesee County prosecutor, Leonard launched his bid in June 2025 on policy themes like lower taxes, stronger third-grade reading, and better mental health care while also raising concerns about AI data centers and auto insurance.