Mike Pence, the former Vice President of the United States, has officially entered the 2024 presidential primary for the GOP nomination, setting the stage for a potential clash with former President Donald Trump.
Pence, known for positioning himself as a “classical conservative,” is expected to formally announce his candidacy on June 7.
He joins a crowded field of candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Tim Scott, and former South Carolina Governor Nikky Haley.
Mike Pence will likely emphasize his differences with Trump on socially conservative issues throughout his campaign.
Many believed that Trump chose Pence as his running mate in 2016 to appeal to social conservatives who viewed Trump as too liberal.
Pence’s 2024 bid is expected to follow a similar strategy.
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Pence distances himself from Trump in ‘tragic’ Capitol breach
Despite serving as Trump’s vice president, Pence distanced himself from the former president following the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach.
He referred to that day as “tragic” and stated that history would hold Trump accountable for his actions.
Pence refused Trump’s repeated requests to use powers to overturn the election results, citing the potential for a constitutional crisis.
Pence resists calls for investigations, mentions voting ‘irregularities’
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However, Pence has also resisted calls for investigations into the events of January 6th and suggested that there were “irregularities” in the 2020 election.
In a March 2021 op-ed for the Heritage Foundation, he mentioned significant voting irregularities and instances of officials disregarding state election laws.
Pence urges conservatives to reject ‘populism,’ embrace conservativeness
In recent speeches, Pence has called on conservatives to reject the allure of populism and remain committed to conservative ideals.
He emphasized the importance of security, limited government, liberty, and life while cautioning against being led astray by unprincipled populism.
Pence, loyal to Trump administration, led COVID-19 task force
During the Trump administration, Pence played a loyal role, defending the administration’s accomplishments and leading the COVID-19 task force.
He oversaw Operation Warp Speed, which resulted in developing COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
After leaving the White House, Pence joined the Heritage Foundation as a visiting fellow.
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Trump focuses on DeSantis as foremost challenger, not Pence
Pence has also expressed support for Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, stating that while it is not America’s war, the United States should support Ukraine in defending international freedom.
Despite the personal differences between Trump and Pence, Trump has focused much of his attention on Governor Ron DeSantis as a potential primary challenger.
Pence, a strong contender in the GOP race
Polls show Pence trailing behind Trump and DeSantis, with similar levels of support as Nikki Haley.
Conclusively, Mike Pence’s entry into the 2024 presidential race adds another contender to the growing field of GOP candidates.
Pence seeks to set himself apart from Trump in the GOP race
As a self-proclaimed classical conservative, Pence aims to distinguish himself from Trump on socially conservative issues.
However, he still faces an uphill battle in a crowded primary race, with Trump and DeSantis leading in the polls.
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