NEW YORK — Mike Pence has entered the 2024 presidential race after filing the official paperwork on Monday. He becomes the eighth Republican to do so.
The former vice president is expected to formally kickoff his campaign at an event in Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday – his 64th birthday.
Pence served as the governor of Indiana before becoming Trump’s running mate in 2016. He served as a conservative counterbalance to Trump’s metropolitan lifestyle and ostentatious personality.
The relationship fared well publicly during their four years together in the White House, but suffered an acrimonious ending on January 6 – when Pence upheld the results of the 2020 election despite Trump’s protestations.
“I think this country is in a lot of trouble,” Pence said when asked last week by Fox News’ Sean Hannity about a possible presidential run in 2024. “We have to produce leadership in this country that will take our country back to the policies that left us stronger, more prosperous in the Trump-Pence years.”
Prior to becoming governor, Pence represented the Hoosier State in Congress for 12 years from 2001 until 2013.
