According to sources close to CNN, former Vice President Mike Pence, who served under Donald Trump, is set to declare his candidacy for the 2024 Presidential Elections. He intends to announce his decision through a speech in Iowa and a campaign video on June 7th.
Pence’s announcement would place him in direct competition with his former boss, Trump, who is also hoping to win a second term and is currently considered the most likely candidate.
The choice to declare his candidacy in Iowa, rather than his home state of Indiana, underscores the significance Pence attaches to the state, which will host the first caucus in the Republican Party’s primary elections.
Before being chosen as Trump’s Vice President in the 2016 elections, Pence served as the Governor of Indiana and was a former member of Congress.
Despite a challenging road to securing the Republican nomination, Pence’s politics align well with evangelical Christians, a crucial voting bloc for Republicans.
Pence’s relationship with Trump soured after the former President pressured him to deny the validity of the 2020 presidential election results. Pence also condemned the Capitol breach on January 6, 2021, putting himself and his family at risk.
Pence joins other Republican contenders such as Trump, Ron DeSantis, and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, all of whom are looking to challenge current President Joe Biden.
NBC was the first to report on Pence’s intent to run for the presidency.
