Updated

Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore has entered the Republican presidential field. He filed a statement of candidacy with the FEC on Wednesday afternoon, and becomes the 17th well-known GOP candidate to pursue higher office.

Earlier this month the former governor told the Washington Examiner he was looking at entering the race in advance of a candidate forum in New Hampshire during the first week of August.

He is the third veteran among the prominent GOP candidates running for president, and his campaign platform will focus on strengthening U.S. national security. He was chairman of the Republican National Committee in 2001, and served as governor of Virginia from 1998 to 2002.

Gilmore has served as president and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation, a conservative think tank in Virginia, since leaving office.

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