Robertson, was initially seen as the most likely candidate to succeed Sturgeon by the betting markets. However, on 20 February, he announced that he would not be standing, citing his young family as the reason. The deputy first minister John Swinney was initially considered another potential candidate. However, he ruled himself out of the contest on 16 February. It was also reported that Keith Brown and Màiri McAllan were considering entering the race. On 19 February, Brown ruled himself out of the leadership contest, stating "he could better serve the party in his current post" as depute leader. McAllan also ruled out standing. With Kate Forbes' campaign announcement on 20 February, there were expected to be just three candidates: Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf, the latter two having declared on 18 February. Yousaf is seen as the continuity candidate, supporting the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, but he is not committing to the idea of using the next general election as a de facto referendum. Regan opposes the Gender Recognition Reform bill, but supports a more aggressive version of the de facto referendum plan. Forbes, having been on maternity leave, had been absent from these two debates previously, but soon declared her opposition to the Gender Recognition Reform bill. Yousaf and Forbes both support trying to grow support in Scotland for independence rather than the de facto referendum plan. Once all three candidates had declared, Forbes was considered the most likely winner by bookmakers, followed by Yousaf, with Regan thought to be much less likely to win. After controversy over Forbes's declaration that she would have voted against legalising same-sex marriage, several of her supporters withdrew their endorsements. The social security minister Ben Macpherson said he had been encouraged by members to stand as a fourth candidate, but chose not to. At First Minister's Questions on 23 February, Conservative and Labour politcians criticised Yousaf's governance of the NHS. Kate Forbes The finance secretary Kate Forbes was on maternity leave when Sturgeon announced her resignation plans. Forbes announced her candidacy on 20 February. She has been considered a favourite to win the election from the beginning. She was considered more centrist than the other candidates and on the political right wing of the SNP. Forbes is the youngest candidate, aged 32 at the time of the election. On independence, Forbes said that she considered Sturgeon's proposal of using a parliamentary