Former Vice President Mike Pence, known for his unwavering loyalty to Donald Trump but later distancing himself from the former president following the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, has officially announced his challenge to Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
In his campaign video, Pence expressed pride in the progress made during his time as vice president without directly mentioning Trump. He criticized current Democratic President Joe Biden instead. It is highly unusual for a vice president to run against a president they served under, and this has occurred only a few times in U.S. history. Pence enters the Republican primary race facing significant challenges, polling at a mere 5% and trailing Trump by a wide margin of 44 points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll conducted in May.
Turning 64 years old on Wednesday, Pence joins a crowded Republican field that revolves around a two-man race between Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He will kick off his campaign with an event near Des Moines, Iowa, followed by a CNN town hall later in the day. Pence’s campaign filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Monday.
As a conservative Christian, Pence intends to focus much of his efforts on Iowa, the first state to hold a nominating contest next year. Given the significant number of evangelical voters in Iowa’s Republican electorate, Pence hopes to gain momentum and become a serious contender through a strong showing in the state.
Throughout Trump’s tumultuous presidency, Pence stood by him, defending him during numerous scandals. However, Pence faced backlash from Trump and his supporters when, as the ceremonial president of the Senate, he refused to interfere with the certification of Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. Pence maintained that he had no constitutional authority to alter the election results. On January 6, 2021, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol during the certification process, resulting in Pence and others evacuating for their safety.
Pence expressed his stance in March, stating that he had no right to overturn the election, and he held Trump responsible for his inflammatory words that endangered his family and everyone present at the Capitol that day. Trump, during a recent CNN town hall, acknowledged Pence’s mistake while emphasizing his respect for him.
Representatives for Trump’s campaign were not immediately available for comment on Pence’s challenge. However, some diehard Trump supporters perceive Pence’s refusal to overturn the election as an act of betrayal, which may complicate his path to securing the nomination.
Pence, who previously served as the governor of Indiana and as a congressman, aligns himself with many of Trump’s policies while presenting himself as a balanced and consensus-driven alternative. The success of his campaign will depend on his ability to attract Trump policy supporters who may be put off by the former president’s rhetoric and behavior, ultimately forming a viable coalition.
In his campaign video, Pence highlighted concerns such as inflation, immigration, and the risk of recession. He also mentioned global challenges, referencing leaders from Russia and China, while expressing his view that “the enemies of freedom are on the march around the world.” Furthermore, he touched upon cultural issues without specifically mentioning abortion but emphasized efforts to “give America a new beginning for life.”
