(WWJ) Just days after turning in signatures to get on the ballot, one of the Republicans running for governor of Michigan has decided to withdraw from the race.
Citing an increasingly negative state of the race, former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard announced Thursday that he's dropping out.
Leonard said he ran on "substance" and "bold solutions" — moving the conversation forward in a meaningful way.
But he said the system, quote, "rewards sound bites over substance, theater over seriousness and personal attacks over real policy debate."
That something he talked about during a visit last week to the WWJ Newsradio 950 studios.
"There have been times that I've seen some candidates, they will say something very snarky or very negative towards one of the other candidates, and they'll get 300 shares on Facebook and 8,000 views, or whatever it is," Leonard told WWJ's Ryan Wrecker. "And there's time we will put forth a mental health plan, and maybe it'll get half the views. But, again, I'm gonna stay consistent."
Leonard was not favored to win the Republic primary, polling in the single digits.
His decision to drop out comes one before the withdrawal deadline.
The remaining options in the GOP primary include: John James, Aric Nesbitt, Perry Johnson and Mike Cox.
On the Democrat side, the leading candidates are Jocelyn Benson and Chris Swanson.
Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent, which has put an added spin on the race.
We've been speaking with the candidates. Stay with WWJ for updates on the race.
