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Mike Pence

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Mike Pence
Prior offices:
Vice President of the United States
Years in office: 2017 - 2021
Predecessor:Joe Biden (D)
Successor:Kamala D. Harris (D)
Governor of Indiana
Years in office: 2013 - 2017
Successor:Eric Holcomb (R)
U.S. House Indiana District 6
Years in office: 2003 - 2013
Predecessor:Dan Burton (R)
Successor:Luke Messer (R)
U.S. House Indiana District 2
Years in office: 2001 - 2003
Elections and appointments
Last convention
July 15, 2024
Education
High school
Columbus North High School
Bachelor's
Hanover College, 1981
Law
Indiana University School of Law, 1986
Personal
Religion
Christian
Profession
Attorney, radio talk show host
Contact

Michael Richard "Mike" Pence (b. June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana) was the 48th vice president of the United States, serving in PresidentDonald Trump's (R) administration from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021. Pence lost re-election on November 3, 2020, running with Trump again on the Republican presidential ticket.[1]

Pence announced that he was running in the2024 Republican presidential primary on June 7, 2023, at an event in Ankeny, Iowa.[2] He suspended his campaign on October 28, 2023.[3]

Scott Reed, co-chair of a super PAC supporting Pence's candidacy, described Pence toPBS as "espous[ing] Reagan-style conservatism, including traditional social values, hawkish foreign policy and small government economics."[4]Click here to read more about his presidential campaign.

Following his vice presidency, Pence worked withThe Heritage Foundation and theYoung America's Foundation.[5][6] He weighed in on several noteworthy issues during this time, including expressing support for theDobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision that found there was no constitutional right to abortion, and expressing opposition to Vladimir Putin and Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.[7][8]

During his tenure as vice president, Pence expressed opposition to the2019 impeachment proceeding against Trump.[9] At the time of Trump'ssecond impeachment in 2021, which focused on thebreach of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Pence avoided public comment on the proceeding. As president of the U.S. Senate, Pence presided over the congressional process for officially declaring the winner of the 2020 presidential election, which was interrupted by the Capitol breach. Pence declared former Vice PresidentJoe Biden (D) the winner of the presidential election with 306 electoral votes on January 7. Previously, Trump had tweeted: "The Vice President has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors.”[10] In 2023, Pence said, "On January 6th, Former President Trump demanded that I choose between him and the Constitution. I chose the Constitution and I always will."[11]

Pence played a significant role in the Trump administration on several foreign policy issues.[12][13][14] He expressed commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance and called on European allies to commit more financial aid to the Trump administration's opposition to Iran.[14][13] Pence also criticized China and Venezuela.[13][12]

Pence served as the 50thgovernor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017. As governor, Pence signed into law a 5 percent individual income tax cut in Indiana and eliminated the estate tax.[15] He also supported the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015, which allowed individuals and businesses to exert as a legal defense a right to the free exercise of religion.[16][17]

Contents

Biography

Pence was born in Columbus,Indiana, in 1959. He has five siblings. His father, Edward Joseph Pence, Jr. served in the Korean War with the U.S. Army and received the Bronze Star. Pence was raised as a Roman Catholic and a Democrat, but became an evangelical Christian and Republican in college. He said,“I am a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.”[18] He graduated from Hanover College with a bachelor's degree in history in 1981. After working as an admissions counselor at Hanover College, he continued his education at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis School of Law, earning his J.D. in 1986.[16][19]

Pence began his professional law career in private practice. He had two failed bids for Congress against incumbent Rep. Philip Sharp (D) in 1988 and 1990. After that he led the Indiana Policy Review Foundation from 1991 through 1993 and hosted a syndicated talk radio show called The Mike Pence Show.[16][19] In 1994, he began hosting a television show by the same name on Indianapolis station WNDY.

In 2000, he ran for the U.S. House again, this time winning the race for Indiana's 2nd Congressional District.[16] While in Congress, Pence was named the chairman of theRepublican Study Committee in 2005. He became chairman of the House Republican Conference in 2011.[16]

Pence was elected the 50thgovernor of Indiana in 2012. After announcing he intended to run for a second gubernatorial term, Republican presidential nomineeDonald Trump (R) selected Pence as his running mate. Pence was elected on November 8, 2016, and sworn in as vice president of the United States on January 20, 2017.[16] Since leaving the White House, Pence has written two books, So Help Me God (2022) and Go Home for Dinner (2023). He also founded a political advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom.[20][21]

Pence and his wife, Karen, have been married since 1985. They have three children: Michael, Charlotte, and Audrey. His older brother, Greg Pence, is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 6th district of Indiana.[16]

Political career

Vice president of the United States, 2017-2021

See also:Policy issues under the Trump administration, 2017-2021

Pence was the 48th vice president of the United States. He was elected vice president on November 8, 2016, and sworn in on January 20, 2017. His term concluded on January 20, 2021.

National Space Council

Pence led the effort to recreate the National Space Council in 2017. Previously, the Council had disbanded in 1993.[22] Pence acted as its chairman, supporting progress towards a manned mission to Mars, returning to the Moon, and working with private space companies.[23]

White House Coronavirus Task Force

In February of 2020, President Trump announced the creation of a Coronavirus Task Force that would be led by Pence. The task force included several medical and infectious disease experts, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, and coordinated the White House’s response to the coronavirus.[24]

Tie-breaking votes cast by Pence

See also:Tie-breaking votes cast by vice presidents in the Senate
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Vice PresidentMike Pence (R) cast 13 tie-breaking votes in the Senate:

  • December 21, 2018: The Senate voted 47-47 on whether to open discussion on the Child Protection Improvements Act of 2017. Pence broke the tie to open discussion on the act.[25]
  • February 28, 2018: The Senate voted 49-49 on Russell Vought's nomination to be the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. Pence broke the tie to confirm Vought.[29]
  • January 24, 2018: The Senate voted 49-49 to confirm Kansas Gov.Sam Brownback's (R) nomination as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. Pence broke the tie to confirm the nomination.[30]
    • January 24, 2018: Pence broke an initial 49-49 tie to end debate on Gov.Brownback's's (R) nomination.[31]
  • December 2, 2017: The Senate voted 50-50 on an amendment to allow the use of 529 savings accounts to pay for elementary and secondary school costs, including private-school tuition. Pence broke the tie.[32]
  • October 24, 2017: The Senate voted 50-50 on a joint resolution to nullify a rule submitted by theConsumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding arbitration agreements. Pence broke the tie. The CFPB’s rule would have prevented companies from including arbitration clauses in customer contracts that block customers from filing class-action lawsuits in the case of a dispute. It was set to go into effect in 2018.[33]
  • July 25, 2017: The Senate held a vote on a motion to proceed to theAmerican Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA), the House-passed repeal and replace bill. The motion was approved 51-50. Pence voted in favor of the bill to break the 50-50 tie.[34]
  • March 30, 2017: The Senate voted to advance HJ Res 43—a measure allowing states to withhold federal funding for family planning from Planned Parenthood and other healthcare providers that perform abortions. Under an Obama-era regulation, states could not exclude a healthcare provider from receiving Title X funding for family planning and related services, like cervical cancer screenings, because it also provided abortion services. Pence cast the tie-breaking vote on the procedural motion to revoke the rule.[35]
    • March 30, 2017: Pence then cast the tie-breaking vote on final vote to revoke the rule.[36]
  • February 7, 2017:Betsy DeVos was confirmed by the Senate as secretary of education by a vote of 51-50. It was the first time in history a vice president had broken a tie in a Cabinet nomination vote.[37]

Governor of Indiana, 2013-2017

Pence served as governor of Indiana from January 14, 2013, to January 9, 2017. He was succeeded byEric Holcomb (R).[38][39]

Tax policy

As governor, Pence signed into law a tax cut package that included a 5 percent individual income tax cut in Indiana. This was the largest tax cut in Indiana state history, but was half of the ten percent tax cut that Pence originally proposed. The tax cuts also included an end to the state’s estate tax.[40]

Education policy

As governor, Pence expanded eligibility for the state’s school voucher program and removed the cap on the number of students who could use the program.[41] The number of students using vouchers rose from 4,000 to over 30,000 a year, making it the largest voucher program in the country at the time.[41][42] Pence also created Indiana’s first state-funded preschool program.[43]

U.S. House of Representatives, 2001-2013

Pence served in theUnited States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. In 2000, he won election toIndiana's 2nd Congressional District. In 2002, the district was renumbered asIndiana's 6th Congressional District.

Committee assignments, 2011-2012

Congressional Personal Gain Index

Congressional Personal Gain Index graphic.png
See also:Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

ThePersonal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of theU.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:

Based oncongressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available byOpenSecrets.org, Pence's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $11,015 and $169,000. That averages to $90,007.50, which was lower than the average net worth of Republican representatives in 2010 of $7,561,133.[44] Between 2004 and 2012, Pence's calculated net worth[45] increased by an average of 155 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2014, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.[46]

Mike Pence Yearly Net Worth
YearAverage Net Worth
2004$15,803
2012$211,510
Growth from 2004 to 2012:1,238%
Average annual growth:155%[47]
Comparatively, theAmerican citizen experienced a median yearlydecline in net worth of-0.94%.[48]

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.


Issues

Click on the tiles below to see Pence's issue positions on domestic, economic, and foreign policy when he was a member of Congress, governor ofIndiana, and the 2016 Republican vice presidential nominee.

Pence on domestic affairs

Click the tiles below to learn more about Pence's positions on domestic affairs.

Pence on economic affairs and government regulations

Click the tiles below to learn more about Pence's positions on economic affairs and government regulations.

Pence on foreign affairs and national security

Click the tiles below to learn more about Pence's positions on foreign affairs and national security.

Pence on politics and leadership

Click the tiles below to learn more about Pence's character, communications, and leadership positions.

Elections

2024

Pence announced his candidacy for the2024 Republican presidential primary on June 7, 2023.[49] Pence withdrew from the race on October 28, 2023.[50] Click the links below to read more about the 2024 presidential election:

2020

Vice presidency

See also:Presidential election, 2020,Republican National Convention, 2020, andVice presidential candidates, 2020

Sen.Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) was elected vice president of the United States on November 3, 2020. She received 306electoral votes in the Electoral College on December 14, 2020, along with former Vice PresidentJoe Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket.[1]


Presidential election, 2020
 
Candidate/Running mate
%
Popular votes
Electoral votes
✔
Image of
Image of
Joe Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D)
 
51.3
 
81,282,632306
Image of
Image of
Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R)
 
46.9
 
74,223,234232
Image of
Image of
Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (L)
 
1.2
 
1,864,8730
Image of
Image of
Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (G)
 
0.3
 
402,7950
Image of
Roque De La Fuente (multiple running mates) (Alliance Party)
 
0.1
 
88,2140
Image of
Gloria La Riva (multiple running mates) (Party for Socialism and Liberation)
 
0.1
 
84,9050
Image of
Image of
Ye/Michelle Tidball (Independent)
 
0.0
 
67,9060
Image of
Image of
Don Blankenship/William Mohr (Constitution Party)
 
0.0
 
59,9240
Image of
Image of
Brock Pierce/Karla Ballard (Independent)
 
0.0
 
49,7640
Image of
Image of
Brian T. Carroll/Amar Patel (American Solidarity Party)
 
0.0
 
35,2600
Image of
Image of
Alyson Kennedy/Malcolm Jarrett (Socialist Workers Party)
 
0.0
 
6,7910
Image of
Image of
Bill Hammons/Eric Bodenstab (Unity Party)
 
0.0
 
6,6470
Image of
Jade Simmons (multiple running mates) (Independent)
 
0.0
 
6,5340
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jerry Segal/John de Graaf (Bread and Roses)
 
0.0
 
5,9490
Image of
Image of
Dario David Hunter/Dawn Neptune Adams (Progressive Party)
 
0.0
 
5,3940
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Phil Collins/Billy Joe Parker (Prohibition Party)
 
0.0
 
4,8440
Image of
Image of
Jesse Ventura/Cynthia McKinney (Green Party of Alaska)
 
0.0
 
3,2840
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
President Boddie/Eric Stoneham (C.U.P.)
 
0.0
 
3,1710
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Joe McHugh/Elizabeth Storm (Independent)
 
0.0
 
2,8430
Image of
Image of
Mark Charles/Adrian Wallace (Independent)
 
0.0
 
2,6620
Image of
Sheila Tittle (multiple running mates) (Independent)
 
0.0
 
1,8060
Image of
Image of
Connie Gammon/Phil Collins (Independent)
 
0.0
 
1,4750
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
J.R. Myers/Tiara Lusk (Life and Liberty)
 
0.0
 
1,3720
Image of
Image of
Tom Hoefling/Andy Prior (Independent)
 
0.0
 
1,2410
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
H. Brooke Paige/Thomas Witman (Grumpy Old Patriots)
 
0.0
 
1,1750
Image of
Image of
Christopher Lafontaine/Michael Speed (Independent)
 
0.0
 
8560
Image of
Kyle Kenley Kopitke (multiple running mates) (Independent)
 
0.0
 
8150
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Ricki Sue King/Dayna Chandler (Genealogy Know Your Family History Party)
 
0.0
 
5460
Image of
Image of
Princess Khadijah Maryam Jacob-Fambro/Khadijah Maryam Jacob Sr. (Independent)
 
0.0
 
4970
Image of
Image of
Blake Huber/Frank Atwood (Approval Voting Party)
 
0.0
 
4090
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Joseph Kishore/Norissa Santa Cruz (Socialist Equality Party)
 
0.0
 
3170
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Richard Duncan/Mitch Bupp (Independent)
 
0.0
 
2130
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jordan Marc Scott/Jennifer Tepool (Independent)
 
0.0
 
1750
Image of
Image of
Gary Swing/David Olszta (Boiling Frog)
 
0.0
 
1410
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Keith McCormic/Sam Blasiak (Bull Moose)
 
0.0
 
1260
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Zachary Scalf/Matthew Lyda (Independent)
 
0.0
 
290
 Other write-in votes
 
0.1
 
183,2070
Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined The results have been certified.

Total votes: 158,402,026

0 states have not been called.



PresidentDonald Trump (R) indicated Pence would again be his running mate on November 7, 2018.[51]

Click here to learn more about the 2020 Trump presidential campaign.

2016

Vice presidency

See also:Mike Pence vice presidential campaign, 2016

See also:Splits between the Electoral College and popular vote
U.S. presidential election, 2016
PartyCandidateVote %VotesElectoral votes
    DemocraticHillary Clinton/Tim Kaine48.3%65,844,969227
    RepublicanGreen check mark transparent.pngDonald Trump/Mike Pence46.2%62,979,984304
    LibertarianGary Johnson/Bill Weld3.3%4,492,9190
    GreenJill Stein/Ajamu Baraka1.1%1,449,3700
    - Other1.2%1,684,9087
Total Votes136,452,150538
Election results via:Ballotpedia


Note: Trump and Clinton were projected to receive 306 and 232 electoral votes, respectively. Seven electors, however, cast votes for other candidates. Read about what happenedhere. The results listed above are based on reports from state secretary of state offices and election boards.

Several news outlets reported that Pence was traveling to meet with Republican presidential candidateDonald Trump on July 1, 2016, and that he was formally being vetted as a potential running mate for Trump. Pence's office confirmed the meeting in an official statement, but the governor downplayed a possible VP pick, saying, "I haven't talked to him about that topic. My focus is here in the Hoosier state and that is where it will stay."[52] On July 15, 2016, Trump announced that he had selected Pence as his running mate.[53]

Presidential transition team

Pence was a member ofDonald Trump's presidential transition team. The transition team was a group of around 100 aides, policy experts, government affairs officials, and former government officials who were tasked with vetting, interviewing, and recommending individuals for top cabinet and staff roles in Trump's administration. According toThe New York Times, Pence took over the transition's chairmanship, which had previously been run by New Jersey GovernorChris Christie, on November 11, 2016.[54]

2016 presidential endorsement

✓ Pence endorsedDonald Trump for the Republican primary in the 2016 U.S.presidential election.[55]

See also:Endorsements for Donald Trump
2016 Presidential Endorsements by Governors
GovernorCandidateDateSource
Democratic PartyAlejandro J. García PadillaDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonJune 2016The Associated Press
Democratic PartyJerry BrownDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonMay 2016Reuters.com
Republican PartyPete RickettsRepublican PartyDonald TrumpMay 2016The Washington Post
Republican PartyMike PenceRepublican PartyDonald TrumpMay 2016Tribune Star
Republican PartyPhil BryantRepublican PartyDonald TrumpMay 2016Politico
Republican PartyRick ScottRepublican PartyDonald TrumpMarch 2016NBC News
Republican PartyMary FallinRepublican PartyDonald TrumpMay 2016The Washington Times
Republican PartyBrian SandovalRepublican PartyJohn Kasich (primary)April 2016CNN
Republican PartyScott WalkerRepublican PartyTed CruzMarch 2016Politico
Republican PartyGary R. HerbertRepublican PartyTed Cruz (primary)March 2016The Hill
Republican PartySusana MartinezRepublican PartyMarco Rubio (primary)March 2016Politico
Republican PartyPaul LePageRepublican PartyDonald TrumpFebruary 2016Politico
Republican PartyChris ChristieRepublican PartyDonald TrumpFebruary 2016CNN
Republican PartyButch OtterRepublican PartyJohn KasichFebruary 2016CNN
Republican PartyGreg AbbottRepublican PartyTed CruzFebruary 2016CNN
Republican PartyAsa HutchinsonRepublican PartyMarco RubioFebruary 2016CNN
Republican PartyNikki HaleyRepublican PartyMarco RubioFebruary 2016CNN
Republican PartySam BrownbackRepublican PartyMarco RubioFebruary 2016CBS News
Democratic PartyJay InsleeDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonNovember 2015Seattle Times
Democratic PartyJay NixonDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonNovember 2015KBIA Mid-Missouri Public Radio
Democratic PartyJack MarkellDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonOctober 2015delawareonline
Democratic PartyJohn HickenlooperDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonOctober 2015Denver Post
Democratic PartyMaggie HassanDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonSeptember, 2015Patch
Democratic PartyMark DaytonDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonNovember 2013Politics Minnesota
Democratic PartyAndrew CuomoDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonApril 2015New York Observer
Republican PartyLarry HoganRepublican PartyChris ChristieJuly 2015The Washington Times
Democratic PartyPeter ShumlinDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonMay 2015The Hill
Democratic PartyTerry McAuliffeDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonApril 2015The Washington Post
Democratic PartyTom WolfDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonJune 2015Twitter
Democratic PartyDan MalloyDemocratic PartyHillary ClintonJune 2015Hartford Courant

Pence had previously endorsedTed Cruz.[56]

Gubernatorial election

See also:Indiana gubernatorial election, 2016 andIndiana races we're watching, 2016

Pence initially filed as a candidate for theRepublican gubernatorial nomination in 2016 and ran unopposed in the Republican primary election. However, after rumors had circulated for weeks, Republicanpresidential candidateDonald Trump announced in the morning on July 15, 2016, viaTwitter that Pence would be joininghis ticket as his running mate and vice presidential pick. Pence withdrew from the race the same day, just prior to the noon deadline.[57]

Potential presidential bid

See also:Mike Pence vice presidential campaign, 2016

Pence was considered a potential Republican candidate for the 2016 presidential election. However, he announced that he would not seek the presidency on May 19, 2015.[58][59]

2012

See also:Indiana gubernatorial election, 2012

Pence won election asgovernor ofIndiana in2012. Pence was slated to face Fishers businessmanJim Wallace in the May 8, 2012,Republican primary election, but Wallace was removed from the ballot by the Indiana Election Commission on February 24, 2012, for failing to receive the requisite 500 signatures per congressional district. Thus, Pence was unopposed in the Republican primary, and he defeated former House SpeakerJohn Gregg (D),Rupert Boneham (L), and write-in candidateDonnie Harold Harris in the general election on November 6, 2012.[60][61][62]

Governor/Lieutenant Governor of Indiana General Election, 2012
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    Democratic John Gregg / Vi Simpson46.6%1,200,016
    RepublicanGreen check mark transparent.pngMike Pence / Sue Ellspermann49.5%1,275,424
    Libertarian Rupert Boneham / Brad Klopfenstein4%101,868
    Independent Donnie Harold Harris / George Fish0%21
Total Votes2,577,329
Election results viaIndiana Secretary of State


Governor of Indiana Republican Primary, 2012
CandidateVote %Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMike Pence100%554,412
Total Votes554,412
Election results viaIndiana Secretary of State.

Issue positions

  • Economic development:

In terms of economic development, Pence said, "We would identify personnel in the IEDC with essentially an investment background that we would recruit and say, 'We want you to go to each community in this state and evaluate the assets on the ground. And we want you to meet with business leaders.'"[63]

  • Health Insurance:

In a letter to Gov.Mitch Daniels (R) in August 2012, Pence said that if elected governor he would not set up a health insurance exchange in Indiana, leaving the job to the federal government instead. “I believe Indiana should take no part in this deeply flawed health care bureaucracy,” he stated.[64]

  • Jobs:

The major issue of the 2012 campaign was jobs, with each candidate detailing their plan to get citizens back to work. Pence said he would create a jobs cabinet made up of business leaders and investment specialists who would support start-up businesses.[65]

2010

On November 2, 2010, Pence won re-election to theUnited States House of Representatives. He defeated Barry Welsh (D) and Talmage "T.J" Thompson Jr. (Lib.) in the general election.[66]

U.S. House of Representatives, Indiana's 6th Congressional District, 2010
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    RepublicanGreen check mark transparent.pngMike PenceIncumbent66.6%126,027
    Democratic Barry Welsh29.9%56,647
    Libertarian Talmage "T.J" Thompson Jr.3.5%6,635
Total Votes189,309

Campaign finance summary

Ballotpedia LogoNote: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf.Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at theFEC website. Clickhere for more on federal campaign finance law andhere for more on state campaign finance law.

Mike Pence campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024*President of the United StatesWithdrew convention$7,150,753 $6,921,541
2012Governor of IndianaWon$14,841,352 N/A**
Grand total$21,992,105 $6,921,541
Sources:OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Noteworthy events

Breach of the U.S. Capitol (2021)

See also:Breach of U.S. Capitol during electoral vote count (January 6, 2021)

Following the2020 presidential election, Trump asked Pence to overturn the election results in his role as presider over the Congressional joint session to count electoral votes on January 6, 2021.[67] Pence publicly stated that the Constitution did not allow him to decide which votes counted and which votes did not in a “Dear Colleague” letter.[68] Pence was evacuated from the Senate chamber to a second-floor hideaway.[69] After the protesters were removed and the Capitol secured, the joint session was resumed and Pence certified the results.[70]

Religious Freedom Restoration Act (2015)

In March of 2015, as governor of Indiana, Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) into law, which allowed individuals or businesses to cite their religious beliefs as a defense when sued by a private party. The law also provided that the government can not infringe on a person’s ability to practice their religion without showing a compelling reason, and when a compelling reason is shown, the infringement must be in the least restrictive manner.[71] Following enactment, several businesses threatened to withdraw from conducting activity or scale back their activities in Indiana.[72] In April of 2015, Pence signed revisions of the law to protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.[73]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑1.01.1The New York Times, "Presidential Election Results: Biden Wins," December 14, 2020
  2. ↑YouTube, "Mike Pence officially announces 2024 presidential bid," June 7, 2023
  3. ↑NBC, "Former Vice President Mike Pence suspends his 2024 presidential bid", accessed October 28, 2023
  4. ↑PBS, "WATCH: Former Vice President Mike Pence announces 2024 presidential run," June 7, 2023
  5. ↑Politico, "Pence reveals his post-White House plans," February 4, 2021
  6. ↑Politico, "Mike Pence is starting a podcast," February 5, 2021
  7. ↑The Washington Post, "Pence says there’s no room in the GOP for ‘apologists for Putin’ in veiled swipe at Trump," March 5, 2022
  8. ↑Politico, "Pence: ‘We must not rest’ until abortion is outlawed in every state," June 24, 2022
  9. ↑Politico, "Pence cheerleading for Trump ahead of impeachment hearing," December 4, 2019
  10. ↑Fact Check, "What Trump Asked of Pence," August 3, 2023
  11. ↑Twitter, "Pence on August 1, 2023," accessed August 16, 2023
  12. ↑12.012.1Axois, "How Mike Pence wields foreign policy power," February 24, 2019
  13. ↑13.013.113.2Council on Foreign Relations, "Mike Pence," accessed August 16, 2023
  14. ↑14.014.1The Washington Post, "Mike Pence is quietly becoming a foreign policy," March 6, 2017
  15. ↑Politico, "Trump picks Pence as his running mate," July 15, 2016
  16. ↑16.016.116.216.316.416.516.6Biography.com, "Mike Pence," accessed August 13, 2020
  17. ↑IndyStar, "Fact checking Trump’s claims about Pence’s tax cuts in Indiana," September 27, 2017
  18. ↑Politico, "55 Things You Need to Know About Mike Pence," June 7, 2023
  19. ↑19.019.1White House, "Michael R. Pence," accessed August 13, 2020
  20. ↑The Guardian, "Republican hopeful Mike Pence to release book on ‘how faith makes family,’" June 16, 2023
  21. ↑Washington Examiner, "EXCLUSIVE: Pence returns to MAGA world with Trump-backed political group," April 7, 2021
  22. ↑Scientific American, "U.S. Revives National Space Council after Quarter-Century Absence," June 8, 2017
  23. ↑The Verge, "NASA Will Put Humans on the Moon Again, Mike Pence Tells Space Council," October 5, 2017
  24. ↑USA Today, "What We Know About the White House Coronavirus Task Force Now that Mike Pence is in Charge," February 27, 2023
  25. ↑Senate.gov, "On the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Proceed to the House Message to Accompany H.R. 695 )," December 21, 2018
  26. ↑Senate.gov, "On the Nomination (Confirmation Jonathan A. Kobes, of South Dakota, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit)," December 11, 2018
  27. ↑Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Jonathan A. Kobes to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit)," November 29, 2018
  28. ↑Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Thomas Alvin Farr, of North Carolina, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina)," accessed November 28, 2018
  29. ↑Senate.gov, "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Russell Vought, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget)," February 28, 2018
  30. ↑The HIll, "Pence breaks tie to confirm Trump's pick for religious ambassador," January 24, 2018
  31. ↑The HIll, "Pence breaks tie to confirm Trump's pick for religious ambassador," January 24, 2018
  32. ↑Senate.gov, "On the Amendment (Cruz Amdt. No. 1852)," December 1, 2017
  33. ↑Senate.gov, "On the Joint Resolution (H. J. Res. 111)," October 24, 2017
  34. ↑Senate.gov, "On the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Proceed to H.R. 1628)," July 25, 2017
  35. ↑The New York Times, "Senate Lets States Defund Clinics That Perform Abortions," March 30, 2016
  36. ↑Senate.gov, "On the Joint Resolution (H.J. Res. 43)," March 30, 2017
  37. ↑The New York Times, "Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary; Pence Breaks Tie," February 7, 2017
  38. ↑NWI Politics, "Republican Mike Pence sworn-in as Indiana governor," January 14, 2013
  39. ↑Indianapolis Star, "Holcomb sworn in as Indiana's 51st governor," January 9, 2017
  40. ↑The National Review, “Governor Pence’s Indiana-Tax Win,” May 7, 2013
  41. ↑41.041.1IndyStar, “In Pence, Trump Finds School Choice Advocate,” November 26, 2016
  42. ↑IndyStar, “New Report Shows Indiana Remains National Leader on School Vouchers,” April 14, 2016
  43. ↑WFYI, “Gov. Mike Pence Could Be Trump’s VP: Here’s His Record on Education,” July 14, 2016
  44. ↑OpenSecrets, "Pence, (R-Indiana), 2010"
  45. ↑This figure represents the average annual percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or their first year in office (as noted in the chart below) to 2012, divided by the number of years calculated.
  46. ↑This number was found by dividing each member's total net worth growth percentage by the number of years included in the calculation.
  47. ↑This figure represents the total percentage growth divided by the number of years for which there are net worth figures for each member.
  48. ↑This figure was calculated using median asset data from the Census Bureau. Please see theCongressional Net Worth data for Ballotpedia spreadsheet for more information on this calculation.
  49. ↑YouTube, "Mike Pence officially announces 2024 presidential bid," June 7, 2023
  50. ↑CBS News, "Former Vice President Mike Pence drops out of 2024 presidential race," October 31, 2023
  51. ↑USA Today, "President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence renew their political vows in advance of 2020," November 7, 2018
  52. ↑NBC News, "Mike Pence to Meet With Trump, Being Vetted as Potential VP," accessed July 2, 2016
  53. ↑CNN, "Donald Trump selects Mike Pence as VP," July 15, 2016
  54. ↑The New York Times, "Vice President-Elect Pence to Take Over Trump Transition Effort," November 11, 2016
  55. ↑Tribune Star, "Mike Pence backs Trump, Evan Bayh backs Clinton," accessed May 6, 2016
  56. ↑NPR, "Cruz Lands Indiana Governor Mike Pence's Endorsement," April 29, 2016
  57. ↑NWITimes.com, "Pence, Gregg rematch for Indiana governor is on," February 3, 2016
  58. ↑Cite error: Invalid<ref> tag; no text was provided for refs namednopres
  59. ↑Cite error: Invalid<ref> tag; no text was provided for refs nameddarkhorse
  60. ↑Reuters, "Congressman Mike Pence to run for Indiana governor," June 11, 2011
  61. ↑Courier Journal, "Indiana election panel strikes GOP gubernatorial hopeful Jim Wallace from ballot," February 25, 2012
  62. ↑Indy Star, "GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Wallace removed from Indiana primary ballot, leaving Mike Pence unopposed," February 25, 2012
  63. ↑South Bend Tribune, "Governors race ready to ramp up," May 13, 2012
  64. ↑Evansville Courier & Press, "Pence says he would decline to set up state-level health insurance exchange," August 21, 2012
  65. ↑The Herald Bulletin, "Ind. governor hopefuls detail jobs ideas for race," May 13, 2012
  66. ↑U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  67. ↑The New York Times, “Trump, Told It Was Illegal, Still Pressured Pence to Overturn His Loss,” June 16, 2022
  68. ↑The American Presidency Project, January 06, 2021
  69. ↑The Guardian, “Pence was 40ft from mob on January 6:’Vice-President’s life was in danger,’” June 16, 2022
  70. ↑The Washington Post, “Pence declares Biden winner of the presidential election after Congress finally counts electoral votes,” January 7, 2020
  71. ↑The Indianapolis Star, “RFRA: Why the ‘religious freedom law’ signed by Mike Pence was so controversial,” April 25, 2018
  72. ↑Politico, “Mike Pence reaps the whirlwind,” March 31, 2015
  73. ↑CNN, “Pence signs ‘fix’ for religious freedom law,” April 2, 2015
Political offices
Preceded by
Joe Biden (D)		Vice President of the United States
2017-2021		Succeeded by
Kamala Harris (D)
Preceded by
Mitch Daniels (R)		Indiana Governor
2013-2017		Succeeded by
Eric Holcomb (R)
Preceded by
David McIntosh		U.S. House of Representatives - Indiana District 2/District 6
2001–2013		Succeeded by
Luke Messer (R)
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