Republican state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt announced his candidacy, becoming the first major party candidate in Michigan to launch a gubernatorial campaign in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov.

State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt is the second well-known candidate to enter the race to succeed Whitmer, who has two years remaining in her final term after being reelected in 2022. The open governor’s seat in 2026 is expected to spark competitive primaries.

State Senator, and gubernatorial candidate, Aric Nesbitt wasn’t impressed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Road Ahead address on Wednesday. Nesbitt says the speech calling for bipartisan action to strengthen the economy was hiding some truths he considers evident.

LANSING — State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt is running for governor. Nesbitt is the first well-known Republican to enter the race to succeed Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who will be term-limited in 2026. He announced his campaign in a video posted on social media Tuesday.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen is expected to deliver her seventh State of the State address on Feb. 26, about a month later than she has previously given the annual speech.

Speaking to a crowd of guests Wednesday, Whitmer highlighted the successes of the state's automotive industry, including manufacturers and suppliers investing $40 billion into Michigan, the state's highest concentration of engineering talent and more than 1,000 independent auto suppliers.

In her 'Road Ahead' address, the Governor touched on how to bring auto jobs home, how to continue "fixing the damn roads," and how to work with Michigan's trading partners.

The fates of the auto industry and the state of Michigan are linked, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said during a speech at the Detroit Auto Show Wednesday — and if Michiganders can cross partisan divides and continue the state’s tradition of invention,

"Right now, the future of the entire auto industry is at stake," Whitmer will say, during a speech Wednesday morning.

Michigan’s top Republican leader in the state Senate announced Tuesday a candidacy for governor, becoming the first high-profile Republican to enter the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The current Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt is looking to succeed Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Nesbitt grew up on a six-generation dairy and grape farm. He says his family has been farmers since 1846. He graduated from Hillsdale College with an economics degree and has a wife and two kids, with a third on the way.