Top lawmaker 1st Republican to launch gubernatorial campaign in race to succeed Michigan's Whitmer

The high profile 2026 gubernatorial race to succeed term-limited Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is kicking into gear.

Republican state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt on Tuesday announced his candidacy, becoming the first major party candidate to launch a gubernatorial campaign.

"Michigan deserves so much better than what we’re getting out of Lansing right now," Nesbitt said in a launch video posted on social media. "I'm going to be running a campaign that concentrates on Michigan first...