As the Yukon Liberal Party looks for a new leader to replace Sandy Silver, the leadership race has been more of a one-man stroll to the finish line since the field opened last month – and that man’s stroll might have become a little easier Monday.

Jeanie McLean, a cabinet minister and the Liberal MLA for Mountainview, had been long thought of as a potential front runner to replace Silver as party leader and premier.

However, she has chosen to throw her support behind the only person yet to announce his candidacy: Ranj Pillai.

“I’ve spent countless hours thinking about the Yukon Liberal leadership convention,” McLean said in a video posted to social media Monday.

“At this time, I have decided to put my full support behind my colleague, Ranj Pillai.”

Pillai announced his campaign for the Liberal leadership on Nov. 25 – and has remained the only candidate almost a month later.

Those who wish to run against him have until Jan. 7 to announce their candidacy.

The new party leader, who will also become the territory’s premier, will be elected by party members at the Liberal leadership convention set for Jan. 28.

“I know how deeply he cares about the Yukon and everyone who lives and visits here,” Mc-Lean said of Pillai, the Nova Scotia native who holds multiple cabinet positions and who has represented Porter Creek South for six years.

“I know how passionate he is about continuing the amazing, innovative and extremely progressive work we had started together since 2016 (when the Liberals were first elected).

“He has an extensive back ground and wealth of knowledge.”

There had been speculation Mc-Lean herself might run for the position.

At the start of this month, for instance, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston told reporters at the Yukon Forum that Pillai and McLean were potential premiers he’d like to work with.

He said then that McLean’s Tahltan ancestry and status as a lifelong Yukoner, as well as her previous work as director of justice for Kwanlin Dün First Nation, gave her the experience needed to lead the territory, work with First Nations governments and “support the momentum going forward.”

McLean thanked Silver in Monday’s video for his years of leadership and said she’s happy to support Pillai while continuing her work in her cabinet roles.

“At this point in my journey, I’m focused on my mandates within Education and the Women and Gender Equity Directorate,” she said.

“I’m committed to finishing great work there and I look forward to seeing our next steps unfold as a strong team of experienced leaders.”

As Education minister, McLean has been busy dealing with teacher shortages and separate  abuse scandals at two Whitehorse schools – all of which she surely would have been pressed on had she run for the party leadership. 

Immediately after he announced his plans, Pillai picked up endorsements from former Liberal MP Larry Bagnell and Ione Christensen, a former Whitehorse mayor, commissioner and Liberal senator for the Yukon.

The field for potential candidates is thinning out now. Cabinet minister John Streicker told the Star earlier in December that he wouldn’t be running.

Co-minister Richard Mostyn was thought to be a frontrunner to replace Silver, but the recent failed bid for the 2027 Canada Games and the negotiations involved in it may hurt him should he run.

No other ministers have made public endorsements of Pillai.

Silver announced in September he would be stepping down as premier once a successor was found. He said he will continue to represent Klondike as MLA until the next territorial election. 

The next election must be called by November 2025.

Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon has said he wants Silver’s replacement to call an election immediately so Yukoners can decide who leads their territory.

Pillai told reporters in November he would not call an election in 2023 should he become leader.

Meanwhile, the clock continues to tick on the Confidence and Supply Agreement the minority government signed with the NDP in April 2021.

It remains set to expire on Jan. 31 – just three days after the Liberal leadership convention.