Democratic U.S. Rep Mike Michaud ended speculation about his run for governor Wednesday, confirming that he’ll make a formal announcement Thursday that he’s in the race.

The five-term congressman, who has said he wants to restore civility to the Maine State House, has been raising money to challenge Republican Gov. Paul LePage in his re-election bid. Also in the race is independent Eliot Cutler, who can bring his personal wealth to the race.

Michaud had no comment Wednesday, saving his formal statement for a noon rally Thursday at the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston, a Democratic stronghold.

The formal announcement sets up a three-way race between Cutler, LePage and a Democrat, the same scenario that propelled LePage to victory in 2010.

First, Michaud faces a primary challenge from Steve Woods, a Democratic businessman and Town Council chairman in Yarmouth.

Though he isn’t a smooth-talking politician, Michaud will be a formidable candidate because he’s a right-leaning Democrat with working-class roots and union support, said Sandy Maisel, a political science professor at Colby College.

“He is not charismatic. He’s not terribly articulate. But one-on-one, and in small groups, he’s very persuasive and people take him to be real,” Maisel said. “People are looking for politicians who’re real.”

When he announced his exploratory committee, Michaud made the comment about restoring civility at the State House, a veiled reference to the blunt-spoken LePage.

LePage has often made news for gaffes or missteps, the latest when he used a sexually vulgar phrase in June to describe how he believed a Democratic lawmaker was taking advantage of the people. He’s also made other incendiary remarks.

But that doesn’t seem to matter to LePage’s base of conservative supporters.

Though some moderate Republicans may desert LePage in favor of the other candidates, the governor can expect to win at least a third of the vote based on his core supporters regardless of what he says or does between now and the election in 15 months, said Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine,

That’s important in a three-way race, he said.

“One thing that we learned four years ago is that you don’t underestimate Paul LePage,” Maisel added. “He’s a very good politician.”