Mike Pence lansează cursa prezidențială pentru 2024

Topline

Former Vice President Mike Pence (R) filed paperwork to run for president Monday, ending months of speculation he would take on his one-time running mate, former President Donald Trump—but Pence faces an uphill battle in the growing GOP field and is currently polling in the low single digits.

Fapte-cheie

Pence declared his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Monday ahead of an anticipated announcement Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa.

Pence, the former governor of Indiana, has raised the possibility of running for president as he’s traveled the country promoting his memoir, Sa mă ajute Dumnezeu, and recently gained the backing of a new super-PAC run by one-time Trump allies, “Committed to America.”

Pence joins at least six other confirmed major GOP candidates vying for the party’s 2024 nomination, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.).

The former vice president and staunch conservative has an uphill battle to eclipse early frontrunners Trump and DeSantis, as Pence is currently polling at 5% in a hypothetical GOP primary matchup, while Trump leads with 54% and DeSantis is in second at 21%, according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average.

Fundalul cheie

Pence, who often ties his policy positions to his Christian faith, is seen as the traditional conservative standard-bearer in the Republican 2024 field and has decried the “populism” that’s led the party away from its “oldest traditions and most cherished values,” he said during an October speech at the Heritage Foundation. While Pence has largely avoided criticizing Trump—and defended him following his indictment in Manhattan Criminal Court—he has accused his former boss of endangering him and his family during the January 6 storming of the Capitol, when Trump and his allies pressured Pence to reject the 2020 Electoral College results, which he refused and did not have the authority to do. Pence, however, has challenged subpoenas for his testimony in probes into Trump’s conduct in the lead-up to January 6, though he ultimately sat for questioning in April before a grand jury in the Justice Department’s investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith. Pence has spent the past several months traveling the country promoting his political message and was one of several GOP candidates to appear at Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) “Roast and Ride” political rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds over the weekend, where he told the crowd the next president will “hear from heaven, and he’ll heal this land.”

Ce să urmăriți

Pence is one of at least two additional GOP candidates expected to join the growing field challenging Trump this week. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is also widely expected to announce his candidacy on Tuesday and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will make an announcement Wednesday about his political future after teasing a run for the White House.

Tangentă

The Justice Department concluded its investigation last week into Pence’s handling of classified documents without bringing charges. The DOJ opened a probe after classified documents were found at Pence’s home in Indiana in January and February, and additional non-classified materials were found at offices for Pence’s Advancing America Freedom organization.

Lecturi suplimentare

Pence Cleared As DOJ Ends Classified Documents Investigation (Forbes)

Mike Pence Reportedly Launching Presidential Bid June 7: Here’s The Full 2024 GOP List (Forbes)

Pence este de acord să depună mărturie despre conversațiile lui Trump înainte de Marele Juri de 6 ianuarie (Forbes)