Story highlights
- Gilmore was Virginia's governor from 1998 to 2002
- The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Gilmore will formally announce his candidacy early next month
Washington (CNN)Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore will be the latest Republican to enter the ever-growing field of White House candidates.
Gilmore told the Richmond Times-Dispatch Tuesday that he will jump in. Gilmore was governor from 1998 to 2002, served as Republican National Committee chairman in 2001 and lost Virginia's 2008 U.S. Senate race to then-Gov. Mark Warner in a blowout.
The Times-Dispatch reports that Gilmore will formally announce his candidacy early next month. He told the paper that he doesn't believe other Republicans are addressing major national security concerns.
Gilmore adds to the list of former governors running, including former New York Gov. George Pataki, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is seeking the Democratic nomination.
There are so far 14 official Republican presidential candidates, with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Ohio Gov. John Kasich expected to announce their candidacies later this month.