Jeb Bush confirms he will enter US presidential race

Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, has confirmed he will enter the US presidential race.

Bush’s campaign staff told US media on Thursday that the 62-year-old Republican would officially declare his candidacy on June 15 at an event at Miami Dade College.

Bush is the son of former president George HW Bush, and brother of ex-president George W Bush.

“Governor Bush is thankful for the support and encouragement he has received from so many Americans during the last several months and looks forward to announcing his decision,” campaign spokeswoman Kristy Campbell told the Miami Herald newspaper.

Bush had announced in December that he was actively exploring the idea of running for president, but had not so far made it official.

With Hillary Clinton already running for the Democratic nomination for president, Bush’s entry into the race sets up the possibility of another Clinton-Bush contest – after Clinton’s husband Bill defeated Bush’s father George in the 1992 presidential election.

Perry running again

The announcement of Bush’s candidacy came as 2012 contender Rick Perry, the former Texas governor, said that he would again attempt to win the Republican nomination.

Also on Thursday, former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee formally announced his bid for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, becoming the third candidate to challenge party frontrunner Clinton.

Chafee, 62, a former Republican US senator, as well as an independent for a short time, announced his campaign in a speech at George Mason University in Virginia, just outside Washington. He became a Democrat in 2013.

“I enjoy challenges and certainly we have many facing America,” Chafee said. “Today, I’m formally entering the race for the Democratic nomination for president.”