Many Upper Peninsula residents are only vaguely familiar with former Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard, who suddenly halted his campaign late last week.

Of course, Leonard had some degree of name recognition going in given his time as a state representative from Clinton and Gratiot counties. He also served as speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.

But he was still struggling to put himself on the front burner of Republican politics in the mostly conservative Upper Peninsula when he stepped away from the race.

Why? Because, in his own words, he is weary of the increasingly negative tone within the Republican primary race.

“We didn’t run a campaign built on slogans or talking points,” Leonard said in a statement shared to social media and used in a Michigan Advance story. “We ran on substance and bold solutions, moving the conversation forward in a meaningful way. But it’s also clear the political environment does not consistently reward that kind of campaign.”

Leonard is no political novice. Considered a reliable conservative with a great deal of experience, by all accounts he wanted to use his campaign to inform voters of his positions and proposals for the state going forward.

The 2026 Republican campaign for Michigan governor apparently wasn’t interested in that.

“Sadly the system rewards sound bites over substance, theater over seriousness and personal attacks over real policy debate,” Leonard told Michigan Advance. “Every time we drag fellow Republicans through the mud, we make all our jobs harder in November. And I’ve come to a simple conclusion: I’m not willing to run that kind of campaign.”

Michigan Advance also reported Leonard’s announcement comes a day after businessman Perry Johnson announced a lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John James’ (R-Shelby Township) campaign over its logo, arguing it could mislead voters to believe James is already the sitting governor.

With Leonard out of the running, James and Johnson, alongside former Attorney General Mike Cox, Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt and pastor Ralph Rebandt make up the current slate of candidates seeking to represent Republicans in the general election. 

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are seeking the Democratic nomination, while former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent.

Of course, we have no idea what kind of governor Tom Leonard would have made had he prevailed in the August partisan primary and then, the November general election. But as far as this writing is concerned, it’s hardly the point.

When a veteran GOP player such as Leonard withdraws his candidacy because he cannot stomach the nastiness, that should speak volumes.

And we hasten to add, Democrats are no better. A river of bile freely flows throughout that party, too. People at each other’s throats, name calling, denegration. The list goes on.

The big losers here are voters, who must decide these races. Regrettably, much of the information they digest during the campaigns is little more than garbage.

It’s no wonder, then, that so many voters report being increasingly sick of such campaigns — just like Leonard.