Former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bob Young Jr. officially announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate Wednesday, describing himself as a "black, conservative Republican" who will lay down the law in Washington.

In a statement to the media sent Wednesday morning, Young said if elected he would focus on reducing the size of government and preventing government from "getting in the way of businesses and communities solving problems and creating jobs."

"Michigan used to be a place where the limits were only on how hard we worked and how high we could aspire," he said. "And we need to make Michigan that way again - for everyone."

He plans to live stream an announcement on his campaign Facebook page at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

I'm the disruptor we need in DC! Posted by Bob Young, Jr. on Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Young is the second Republican to mount a campaign for the 2018 Senate race in the hopes of challenging sitting Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing. Young criticized Stabenow as a "product of the past" whose policies have failed Detroit and Michigan.

Lena Epstein, a businesswoman and a former co-chair of President Donald Trump's Michigan campaign, announced her campaign in May. She said in a statement following Young's announcement that he and Stabenow have been in elected office nearly 60 years combined, and said she provides a different vision than people who have been in office for decades.

"Voters across Michigan spoke loud and clear in 2016 that they are looking for outside leaders with business experience," she said. "I will unapologetically defend President Trump, fight to end sanctuary cities, and build the wall. I look forward to debating Bob Young and Debbie Stabenow on these important issues in the months ahead."

In a statement, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brandon Dillon defended Stabenow, saying she fights tirelessly for Michigan every day.

"We need someone on the side of Michigan families, not special interests," he said.

Young retired from the Michigan Supreme Court in April after 18 years on the bench. After his retirement, Young returned to private practice with the firm Dickinson Wright, where he first practiced after graduating from Harvard Law School starting in 1978.

He served on the Court of Appeals before moving to the Michigan Supreme Court. He was chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 2011 to 2017 and was last elected in 2010 to serve an eight-year term that would have ended in 2019.

The former justice has been a rumored contender for the seat since his retirement, but made his intentions clear during a recent Republican party breakfast in Midland. When asked by an attendee whether he would run for Senate, Young told the crowd he would.

Young now has a campaign website -- bobyoungformichigan.com -- and has formed a candidate committee with the Federal Election Commission.