WASHINGTON -- A former Virginia governor joined the Republican presidential contest on Wednesday, making him the 17th candidate in the race.
Jim Gilmore told The Associated Press earlier this month that he would announce his candidacy in early August. On Wednesday, he filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.
Gilmore, a former Army intelligence officer, completed one term as governor in 2002.
He joins a robust presidential field made up of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas; former technology CEO Carly Fiorina; Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; Ohio Gov. John Kasich; former New York Gov. George Pataki; Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky; former Texas Gov. Rick Perry; Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida; former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania; celebrity businessman Donald Trump; and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
The top 10 Republicans in national polls will meet for their first debate Aug. 6 in Cleveland.
On Wednesday, Fox News announced that it relaxed an important requirement for entry to its forum for the lower-polling candidates that will air before their main debate. The network had previously said candidates had to poll at least 1 percent in an average of five recent national polls. Now, that polling barrier has been removed.
Information for this article was contributed by Julie Bykowicz of The Associated Press and Maggie Haberman of The New York Times.
A Section on 07/30/2015