Patrick Brown registers to run in PC leadership race

Patrick Brown has entered the race for leader of theOntario Progressive Conservatives,just weeks after resigning from the position due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Brown was seen dropping off paperwork at party headquarters on Friday afternoon, around two hours before the 5 p.m. ET deadline, and made his announcement to reporters later in theafternoon.

• New information raises questions about allegations against Brown
• 'You lied. You defamed me': Brown blastsCTVNews after sexual misconduct accuser changes timeline

"This isn't about me, this isn't about the PC Party, this is about making sure that on June 7th, the Progressive Conservative Party is successful,"Brown said, referring to the upcoming provincial election.

Brown also spoke about his experiences since resigning.

"What I've gone through in the last three weeks, I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. It has been absolutely horrific," Brown said.

"What Ican tell you is in that period, Ifound strength. Ifound strength by the support of my family and friends, from the party faithful around the province, who reached out to me and saying we know what you are about."

Expelled from caucus

Brown is listed as a"leadership contestant"on the Elections Ontario website, but to run, he will also need to be approved by a party committee.

Insiders tellCBCNews it's unlikely the committee will reject Brown's candidacy.

Brown's entry in therace came just hours after interim leader Vic Fedeli expelled him from the party caucus. Despite his removal, under the party's leadership rules Brown is eligible to run, provided his party membership is not revoked.

There is no indication that his membership had been revoked, and Brown remains an MPPfor Simcoe North.

Ontario PC Party president Jag Badwal confirmed Brown's run and said it would follow due process.

The former partyleader has staunchly denied the allegations of sexual misconduct, which were brought forward bytwo women in late January.

This week,CBCNews reportednew information that appeared to contradictseveral elements of the original allegations, which were first reported byCTVNews.

Entry in race criticized

Tanya Granic Allen, Christine Elliott, Doug Ford and Caroline Mulroney are all vying to replace Brown in an abbreviated leadership race ahead of the June election, when the Tories hope to unseat Premier Kathleen Wynne and her long-ruling Liberals.

One of his rivals criticized Brown's candidacy as a "distraction."

"Defeating Kathleen Wynne should be our only objective. Patrick Brown should focus on clearing his name," Ford said in a statement.

"The Ontario PC Party is about more than any one person. This is a distraction, Ontario deserves better."

Mulroney said on Twitter the electionshouldn't be a place for Brown to clear his name.

Brown told the media he believeshis name has already been cleared, adding that the other candidates have been reaching out for his support.

"I think every other leadership candidate I know, certainly the main ones, have been calling every day trying to reach out for my support," he said.

"I think the reason they have is they know that, frankly, there is a groundswell of support in the membership for the project I have been working on to get this province back on track."

Brown's presence in the race is"totally unprecedented," according toJaime Watt, chairman of the public relations company Navigator.

"I don't think anyone can remember such a thing happening," Watt toldCBCToronto.

"It would be one thing if he had been fired, if there was coup, if he had been dismissed, if he was forced out against his will, but he resigned.

"I think it calls intoquestionthe seriousness of the entire race, and I think it has turnedinto a bit of a shitshow frankly, and I think it actually harms all the candidates at a veryimportant time in Ontario's history," he said.

The PCs will pick their new leader on March 10.