Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 48thvice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under PresidentDonald Trump. A member of theRepublican Party, he previously served as the 50thgovernor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017, and as a member of theU.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013.

Mike Pence
Official portrait, 2017
48thVice President of the United States
In office January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Joe Biden
Succeeded by	Kamala Harris
50thGovernor of Indiana
In office January 14, 2013 – January 9, 2017
Lieutenant	Sue Ellspermann Eric Holcomb
Preceded by	Mitch Daniels
Succeeded by	Eric Holcomb
Chair of the House Republican Conference
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Leader	John Boehner
Preceded by	Adam Putnam
Succeeded by	Jeb Hensarling
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	David M. McIntosh
Succeeded by	Luke Messer
Constituency	2nd district (2001–2003) 6th district (2003–2013)
Personal details
Born	Michael Richard Pence (1959-06-07)June 7, 1959 (age 65) Columbus, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican (from 1983)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (until 1983)
Spouse	Karen Batten ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	3, includingCharlotte Pence Bond
Relatives	Greg Pence (brother) John Pence (nephew)
Residence(s)	Carmel, Indiana, U.S.
Education	Hanover College (BA) Indiana University Indianapolis (JD)
Occupation	Politician lawyer broadcaster
Signature
Website	Official website
Mike Pence's voice Pence talks about the effectiveness ofOperation Warp Speed Recorded December 18, 2020
Other offices 2020–2021: Chair of theWhite House Coronavirus Task Force 2017–2020: Chair of theNational Space Council 2005–2007: Chair of theRepublican Study Committee

Born inColumbus, Indiana, Pence graduated fromHanover College andIU McKinney School of Law. He lost two House bids in 1988 and 1990 and was a conservative radio and television talk show host from 1994 to 1999. Elected to the House in 2000, Pence represented Indiana's2nd district from 2001 to 2003 and6th district from 2003 to 2013. He chaired theRepublican Study Committee from 2005 to 2007 andHouse Republican Conference from 2009 to 2011. He waselected governor of Indiana in 2012.

As governor, Pence enacted Indiana's largest tax cut and pushed for more funding for private education initiatives. He signed multiple anti-abortion bills, including one banning abortions based on the fetus’s race, gender, or disability and requiring funerary services for terminated fetuses, including miscarriages; a federal judge later ruled this law unconstitutional. After Pence signed theReligious Freedom Restoration Act, he encountered resistance from moderate members of his party, the business community, and LGBT advocates. Facing backlash, Pence approved changes to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and other factors.

Pence became Donald Trump’srunning mate in2016 andserved as vice president from 2017 to 2021. Pence chaired theNational Space Council and theWhite House Coronavirus Task Force. Pence and Trump lost their bid for re-election in the2020 presidential election toJoe Biden andKamala Harris, although Trump refused toconcede, madefalse or unproven allegations of election fraud, andfiled numerous unsuccessful lawsuits in multiple states. Despite Trump's urging to overturn the election results and theattack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Pence oversaw the certification of Biden and Harris as the winners of the election.Pence later distanced himself from Trump, endorsing candidates in primary elections in opposition to those supported by Trump and criticizing Trump's conduct on the day of the Capitol attack. In June 2023, Pence launched a2024 presidential bid but withdrew by October. He declined to endorse Trump in 2024.

Pence was born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana, one of six children of Ann Jane "Nancy" Cawley and Edward Joseph Pence Jr.,^[1][2] who ran a group of gas stations.^[3][4] His father served in the U.S. Army during theKorean War and received theBronze Star in 1953, which Pence displays in his office along with its commendation letter and a reception photograph.^[5] His father was of German and Irish descent, and his mother is of Irish ancestry.^[6] His paternal grandfather, Edward Joseph Pence Sr., worked in theChicago stockyards.^[7] He was named after his maternal grandfather, Richard Michael Cawley, who emigrated fromDooncastle, Ireland, to the United States throughEllis Island and who became abus driver in Chicago, Illinois.^{[8][9][10][11]} His maternal grandmother's parents were fromDoonbeg, County Clare, Ireland.^[12][13]

Pence graduated fromColumbus North High School in 1977. He earned aBachelor of Arts in history fromHanover College in 1981, and aJuris Doctor from theRobert H. McKinney School of Law atIndiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis in 1986.^[14] While at Hanover, he joined thePhi Gamma Delta fraternity, becoming the chapter president.^[15] After graduating from Hanover, he was an admissions counselor at the college from 1981 to 1983.^[16]

In his childhood and early adulthood, Pence was aRoman Catholic and aDemocrat, as was the rest of his family.^[17] He volunteered for theBartholomew County Democratic Party in 1976 and voted forJimmy Carter in the1980 presidential election,^[18][10] and has said he was originally inspired to get involved in politics by people such asJohn F. Kennedy andMartin Luther King Jr.^[18] While in college, Pence left the Catholic Church and became an evangelical,born-again Christian, to the disappointment of his mother.^[18][10] His political views also started shifting to the right during this time, something which Pence attributes to the "common-sense conservatism ofRonald Reagan" with which he began to identify.^[18][19]

After graduating from law school in 1986, Pence was an attorney in private practice.^[20] In 1988, he ran for Congress against Democratic incumbentPhilip Sharp, but lost.^[21] He ran against Sharp again in 1990, quitting his job in order to work full-time in the campaign, but once again was unsuccessful.^[21] During the race, Pence used "political donations to pay the mortgage on his house, his personal credit card bill, groceries, golf tournament fees and car payments for his wife".^[22] While the spending was not illegal at the time, it reportedly undermined his campaign.^[22]

During the 1990 campaign, Pence ran a television advertisement in which an actor, dressed in a robe and headdress and speaking in a thick Middle Eastern accent, thanked his opponent, Sharp, for doing nothing to wean the United States off imported oil as chairman of a House subcommittee on energy and power.^[22][23] In response to criticism, Pence's campaign responded that the advertisement was not about Arabs; rather, it concerned Sharp's lack of leadership.^[22][23] In 1991, Pence wrote an essay published in theIndiana Policy Review in which he apologized for running negative ads against Sharp. Pence vowed to refrain from using insulting speech or running ads that belittle his adversaries.^{[24][25][22][26]} Also taking place in 1991, he became the president of theIndiana Policy Review Foundation, a self-describedfree-marketthink tank and a member of theState Policy Network, a position he held until 1993.^[27][28][29]

Shortly after his first congressional campaign in 1988, radio stationWRCR-FM inRushville, Indiana, hired Pence to host a weekly half-hour radio show,Washington Update with Mike Pence.^[30] In 1992, Pence began hosting a daily talk show on WRCR,The Mike Pence Show, in addition to a Saturday show onWNDE in Indianapolis.^{[27][30][31][32]} Pence called himself "Rush Limbaugh on decaf" since he considered himself politically conservative while not as bombastic as Limbaugh.^[25][33] Beginning on April 11, 1994, Network Indiana syndicatedThe Mike Pence Show statewide.^[34] The program reached as many as 18 radio stations in Indiana, includingWIBC in Indianapolis.^[27] From 1995, Pence also hosted a weekend public affairs TV show likewise titledThe Mike Pence Show on Indianapolis TV stationWNDY.^[30][35] Pence ended his radio and television shows in 1999 to focus on his2000 campaign for Congress, which he eventually won.^[36]

Running for the U.S. House of Representatives again in 2000, he won the seat inIndiana's 2nd congressional district after six-year incumbentDavid M. McIntosh opted to run for governor of Indiana. The 2nd district (renumberedthe 6th in 2002) comprised all or portions of 19 counties in eastern Indiana. As a new congressman, Pence adopted the slogan he had used on the radio, describing himself as "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order".^[37] In 2016, House speakerPaul Ryan described Pence as a "principled conservative".^[38] While in Congress, Pence belonged to theTea Party Caucus.^[39]

In his first year in office, Pence opposed PresidentGeorge W. Bush'sNo Child Left Behind Act in 2001,^[40] as well as President Bush'sMedicare prescription drug expansion in 2003.^[41] Pence was re-elected four more times by comfortable margins. In the2006,2008, and2010 House elections, he defeated DemocratBarry Welsh.^[42][43][44]

Pence began to climb the party leadership structure and from 2005 to 2007 was chairman of theRepublican Study Committee, a group ofconservative House Republicans.^[45] In November 2006, Pence announced his candidacy for leader of the Republican Party (minority leader) in theUnited States House of Representatives.^[46] Pence's release announcing his run for minority leader focused on a "return to the values" of theNewt Gingrich-headed 1994Republican Revolution.^[46] However, he lost the bid to RepresentativeJohn Boehner ofOhio by a vote of 168 for Boehner, 27 for Pence, and one for RepresentativeJoe Barton of Texas.^[47] In January 2009, Pence was elected as theRepublican Conference chairman, the third-highest-ranking Republican leadership position at the time behind Minority LeaderJohn Boehner and Republican whipEric Cantor. He ran unopposed and was elected unanimously. He was the first representative from Indiana to hold a House leadership position since 1981.^[48] During Pence's twelve years in the House, he introduced 90 bills andresolutions; none became law.^[49] His committee assignments in the House were the following:

• 107th Congress (2001–2003):Agriculture,Judiciary,Small Business^[50]
• 108th Congress (2003–2005): Agriculture,International Relations, Judiciary^[51]
• 109th Congress (2005–2007): Agriculture, International Relations, Judiciary^[52]
• 110th Congress (2007–2009): Foreign Affairs, Judiciary,Select Committee to Investigate the Voting Irregularities of August 2, 2007 (Ranking Member)^[53]
• 111th Congress (2009–2011): Foreign Affairs^[54]
• 112th Congress (2011–2013): Foreign Affairs, Judiciary^[55]

In 2008,Esquire magazine listed Pence as one of the ten best members of Congress, writing that Pence's "unalloyed traditional conservatism has repeatedly pitted him against his party elders".^[56] Pence was mentioned as a possible Republican candidate for president in2008^[57] and2012.^[58] In September 2010, he was the top choice for president in a straw poll conducted by theValues Voter Summit.^[59][60] That same year, he was encouraged to run against incumbent Democratic senatorEvan Bayh,^[61][62][63] but opted not to enter the race,^[64] even after Bayh unexpectedly announced that he would retire.^[65]

In May 2011, Pence announced that he would be seeking the Republican nomination forgovernor of Indiana in 2012.^[66] Incumbent Republican governorMitch Daniels was term-limited. Pence ran on a platform that touted the successes of his predecessor and promised to continue educational reform and business deregulation of Daniels.^[67][68] The Democratic nominee was formerIndiana speaker of the HouseJohn R. Gregg. Despite strong name recognition and a popular outgoing governor of the same party, Pence found himself in a heated race, eventually pulling out a close win with just under 50 percent of the vote, and less than 3% ahead of Gregg, with Libertarian nomineeRupert Boneham receiving most of the remaining votes.^[69] It was the closest race in 50 years.^[70]

Pence was sworn in as the 50th governor of Indiana on January 14, 2013.^[71]

Pence "inherited a $2 billion budget reserve from his predecessor, Mitch Daniels, and the state ... added to that reserve under his watch, though not before requiring state agencies, including public universities, to reduce funding in years in which revenue fell below projections".^[72] The state finished fiscal year 2014 with a reserve of $2 billion; budget cuts ordered by Pence for the $14 billion annual state budget include $24 million cut from colleges and universities; $27 million cut from the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA);^[73] and $12 million cut from theDepartment of Correction.^[74] During Pence's term as governor, the unemployment rate reflected the national average.^[75] Indiana's job growth lagged slightly behind the national trend.^[76] In 2014, Indiana's economy was among the slowest-growing in the United States, with 0.4 percent GDP growth, compared to the national average of 2.2 percent; this was attributed in part to a sluggish manufacturing sector.^[77]Carrier Corp. andUnited Technologies Electronic Controls (UTEC) announced in 2016 that they would be closing two facilities in Indiana, sending 2,100 jobs to Mexico; the Trump campaign criticized the moves^[78] and Pence expressed "deep disappointment".^[79][80] Pence was unsuccessful in his efforts to persuade the companies to stay in the state, although the companies agreed to reimburse local and state governments for certain tax incentives they had received.^[80][81] TheIndiana Economic Development Corporation led by Pence had approved $24 million in incentives to ten companies who sent jobs abroad. $8.7 million had been paid out by August 2016.^[78]

In 2013, Pence signed a law blocking local governments in Indiana from requiring businesses to offer higher wages or benefits beyond those required by federal law. In 2015, Pence also signed the repeal of an Indiana law that required construction companies working on publicly funded projects to pay aprevailing wage.^{[82][83][84][85]} Indiana had enactedright-to-work legislation under Pence's predecessor, Republican governor Mitch Daniels. Under Pence, the state successfully defended this legislation against alabor challenge.^[83] In 2013, Pence also announced the formation of theIndiana Biosciences Research Institute, a life sciences research facility supported with $25 million in startup funds from the state.^[86]

Pence made tax reform, namely a ten percent income-tax rate cut, a priority for 2013.^[87][88] While he did not get the ten percent cut he advocated, Pence did accomplish his goal of cutting state taxes.^[87] Legislators cut the income tax by five percent and also killed the inheritance tax.^[87] Speaker of the HouseBrian Bosma said the legislative package was the "largest tax cut in our state's history, about $1.1 billion dollars".^[89] By signing Senate Bill 1, the state corporate income tax would be dropped from 6.5 percent to 4.9 percent by 2021, which would be the second-lowest corporate income tax in the nation.^[90] The law also permitted Indiana counties to eliminate the business personal property tax on new equipment and let them exempt small businesses with less than $20,000 worth of equipment from paying personal property taxes.^[90]

On June 12, 2013, the Indiana Legislatureoverrode Pence's veto of a bill to retroactively authorize a local tax. Lawmakers overrode his veto by a 68–23 vote in theHouse and a 34–12 one in theSenate.^[91] Republican legislators overwhelmingly voted against Pence, while most Democrats supported his veto.^[92] The Jackson–Pulaski tax fix, one of three bills vetoed by Pence during the session, addressed a 15-year-old county income tax that had been imposed to fund the construction of jail facilities with the stipulation that the tax be lowered by one percent after the first several years. The reduction had not been implemented and thus county residents had been paying an additional one percent tax that they were legally not required to pay. The bill, which was passed by a huge majority of legislators and subsequently vetoed by Pence, allowed money to be kept and not returned to the taxpayers as would have otherwise been necessary.^[92][93]

As governor, Pence pressed for a balanced budget amendment to thestate's constitution. He initially proposed the initiative in his State of the State address in January 2015. The legislation passed the state Senate.^[94] Indiana has had AAAcredit ratings with thethree major credit-rating agencies since 2010, before Pence took office; these ratings were maintained throughout Pence's tenure.^[95]

In 2014, Pence supported the Indiana Gateway project,^[96] a $71.4 millionpassenger andfreight rail improvement initiative paid for by theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the federal stimulus package), which Pence had voted against while a congressman.^[97] In October 2015, Pence "announced plans to pay off a $250 million federal loan" to cover unemployment insurance payments which had spiked duringthe recession.^[72] In March 2016, Pence signed legislation to fund a $230 million two-year road-funding package.^[72]

During his tenure as governor, Pence supported significant increases in education funding to pre-schools,voucher programs, andcharter schools, but frequently clashed with supporters of traditional public schools.^[98][99] In 2014, a little over one year after taking office, Pence helped establish a $10-million state preschoolpilot program in Indiana and testified personally before the state Senate Education Committee in favor of the program to convince fellow Republicans (several of whom opposed the proposal) to approve the plan.^[98][99] Although the plan was initially defeated, Pence successfully managed to revive it, "getting Indiana off the list of just 10 states that spent no direct funds to help poor children attend preschool".^[99] Demand for enrollment in the program "far outstripped" capacity, and Pence at first refused to apply for up to $80 million in federalHealth and Human Services Preschool Development Grant program funding,^[98] arguing that "Indiana must develop our own pre-K program without federal intrusion".^[100] After coming under sustained criticism for this position, Pence reversed course and sought to apply for the funds.^[98][101]

In 2015, Pence secured significant increases in charter-school funding from the legislation, although he did not get everything he had proposed.^[99] Legislation signed into law by Pence in 2013 greatly increased the number of students in Indiana who qualify for school vouchers, making it one of the largest voucher programs in the United States.^{[102][103][104][105]} The annual cost of the program was estimated to be $53 million for the 2015–2016 school year.^[104][105]

Pence opposed theCommon Core State Standards Initiative, calling for the repeal of the standards in his 2014State of the State address. The Indiana General Assembly then passed a bill to repeal the standards, becoming the first state to do so.^[98][99] In a televised interview appearance withChris Matthews, Pence advocated for puttingcreationism on a par with science in public schools, acceptingcreationist beliefs as factual, and thusteaching the controversy over evolution and natural selection, and regarding theage of the Earth, and letting children decide for themselves what to believe.^[106]

Despite successful advocacy for more funding for pre-schools,voucher programs, andcharter schools, Pence has frequently clashed with teachers unions and supporters ofpublic schooling.^[98][99] In one of his first acts as governor, Pence removed control of the Educational Employment Relations Board, which was in charge of handling conflicts between unions andschool boards, fromGlenda Ritz, a Democrat who was theIndiana superintendent of public instruction (a separately elected position in the state).^[107] Pence created a new "Center for Education and Career Innovation" (CECI) to coordinate efforts between schools and the private sector; Ritz opposed the center, viewing it as a "power grab" and encroachment on her own duties. Pence eventually disestablished the center in order to help defuse the conflict.^[98][99] In May 2015, Pence signed a bill stripping Ritz of much of her authority overstandardized testing and other education issues, and reconstituting the State Board of Education dominated by Pence appointees.^[108] The bill also allowed the board to appoint a chairman other than the Superintendent of Public Instruction starting in 2017, and added the State Board of Education (controlled by Pence) as a "state educational authority" along with the Department of Education (controlled by Ritz) for purposes of accessing sensitive student data.^[108] Pence and Ritz also clashed over non-binding federal guidelines that advised Indiana public schools must treat transgender students in a way that corresponds to theirgender identity, even if their education files indicate a different gender.^[109]

During Pence's term in office, the Republican-controlledIndiana General Assembly "repeatedly tried to roll backrenewable energy standards and successfully ended Indiana's energy efficiency efforts".^[110] Pence has been an outspoken supporter of thecoal industry, declaring in his 2015State of the State address that "Indiana is a pro-coal state," expressing support for an "all-of-the-above energy strategy", and stating: "we must continue to oppose the overreaching schemes of the EPA until we bring their war on coal to an end."^[110][111] In 2015, Pence sent a letter to President Obama denouncing the EPA'sClean Power Plan (which would regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants) and stating that Indiana would refuse to comply with the plan.^[110][112] Indiana joined other states in a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the plan.^[110] In 2016, Pence said that even if legal challenges failed, Indiana would continue to defy the rule and would not come up with its own plan to reduce emissions.^[113]

In 2014, over the opposition of Indiana school organizations, Pence signed a bill which allows firearms to be kept in vehicles on school property.^[114] In 2015, following ashooting in Chattanooga, Pence recruited theNational Rifle Association to train theIndiana National Guard on concealed carry. Some National Guard officials from other states questioned why a civilian organization would be involved in a military issue.^[115] In May 2015, Pence signed into law Senate Bill 98, which limited lawsuits against gun and ammunition manufacturers and sellers and retroactively terminated theCity of Gary's still-pending 1999 lawsuit against gun manufacturers and retailers that allegedly made illegal sales ofhandguns.^[116][117] The bill was supported by Republicans such as state senatorJim Tomes, who hoped the measure would attract more gun-related businesses, but opposed byGary mayor and formerIndiana attorney generalKaren Freeman-Wilson, who viewed the measure as "an unprecedented violation of theseparation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches of state government".^[117] In 2016, Pence signed Senate Bill 109 into law, legalizing thecaptive hunting of farm-raised deer.^[118]

In 2009, parts ofEast Chicago were discovered to have toxiclead andarsenic contamination, and were designated aSuperfund site. Governor Pence declined to declare the Superfund site a state emergency;^[119] his successor GovernorEric Holcomb issued Executive Order 17–13, declaring a disaster emergency in East Chicago.^[120][121] The site of several formerlead smelting plants was first identified as a health concern by theEPA in 1997.^[122]

Beginning in December 2014, there was anHIV outbreak in Southern Indiana.^[123] In 2011, Planned Parenthood (PP) operated five rural clinics in Indiana. They tested for HIV and offered prevention, intervention and counseling to improve public health outcomes. The PP clinic inScott County performed no abortions.^[124] The Republican-controlled legislature and Pence defunded Planned Parenthood.^[125] Scott County has been without an HIV testing center since 2013.^[124] Pence had long been a vocal opponent ofneedle exchange programs, which allow drug users to trade in used syringes for sterile ones in order to stop the spread of diseases, despite solid scientific evidence that such programs prevent the spread of AIDS,Hepatitis B (HBV), andHepatitis C (HCV), and do not increase drug abuse.^[123] In March 2015, well after the outbreak began, Pence finally allowed at least five counties to open needle exchanges, but did not move to lift the state ban on funding for needle exchanges.^[123] Critics say Pence's compromise had been ineffective because counties had no way to pay for needle exchanges themselves. AnesthesiologistJerome Adams, then the Pence-appointed Indiana state health commissioner and latersurgeon general of the United States during theTrump administration, defended Pence, arguing that publicly funded needle exchange programs are controversial in many conservative communities. During his time as Indiana State Health Commissioner, Adams—along with Governor Pence—delayed Indiana's efforts to deal with the largestHIV outbreak related to injection drug use in the history of the United States by stalling adoption of aneedle exchange program. Adams said, "There are people who have real moral and ethical concerns about passing out needles to people with substance abuse problems. To be honest, I shared that sentiment."^[126][127] When President Trump appointed Pence in 2020 to head the country's response to coronavirus, he touted his ostensible experience with quelling an epidemic of HIV in Indiana, in which Pence deliberately delayed his state government's response to the disease despite the recommendations of theCenters for Disease Control that needle exchange was an efficacious approach to reining in the spread of diseases. Pence had told lawmakers he would veto any bill they might pass that provided for such exchanges.^[128][129]

In 2015, Pence and theObama administration agreed to expandMedicaid in Indiana, in accordance with theAffordable Care Act.^[130][131] As part of the expansion, called theHealthy Indiana Plan 2.0, Pence negotiated modifications to the program for Indiana that included co-payments by participants. The co-payments are linked to healthy behaviors on the part of the participants so that, for example, a participant who quit smoking would receive a lower co-payment. Participants can lose benefits for failing to make the payments.^[132] The required contribution would be about 2% of income. Critics say those who already struggle to buy food and housing will have even more difficulty paying their 2%. One critic expressed concern that lower-income people may stay out of the program or avoid pursuing health care. A service provider said the program "wins the award for bureaucratic complexity and red tape".^[133] In early 2017, Indiana submitted its application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to renew Healthy Indiana, to show that the program was meeting its targets, as required for renewal. National Public Radio/Side Effects Public Media said the application used "misleading and inaccurate information".^[134]

On March 26, 2015, Pence signed Indiana Senate Bill 101, also known as the Indiana "religious objections" bill or Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), into law.^[135][136] The move was praised byreligious conservatives,^[137] but criticized by people and groups who felt the law was carefully worded in a way that would permit discrimination againstLGBT persons.^{[138][139][140][141]} Such organizations as theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the gamer conventionGen Con, and theDisciples of Christ spoke out against the law. Apple CEOTim Cook andSalesforce CEOMarc Benioff condemned the law, with the latter's company saying it would halt its plans to expand in the state.^[142][143]Angie's List announced that they would cancel a $40 million expansion of their Indianapolis-based headquarters over concerns with the law. The expansion would have moved 1,000 jobs into the state.^[144] Thousands protested against the policy.^[138] Five Republican state representatives voted against the bill, andGreg Ballard, the Republican mayor of Indianapolis, criticized it as sending the "wrong signal" about the state.^[145]

Pence defended the law, saying it was not about discrimination. In an appearance on theABC News programThis Week with George Stephanopoulos,^[146] he said, "We're not going to change the law," while refusing to answer whether examples of discrimination against LGBT people would be legal under the law.^[147] Pence denied the law permitted discrimination and wrote in a March 31, 2015Wall Street Journal op-ed, "If I saw a restaurant owner refuse to serve a gay couple, I wouldn't eat there anymore. As governor of Indiana, if I were presented a bill that legalized discrimination against any person or group, I would veto it."^[148] In the wake of the backlash against the RFRA, on April 2, 2015, Pence signed legislation revising the law to protect against potential discrimination.^[149] Pence received heavy criticism from liberals at the time of signing the religious freedom law, who labeled him as anti-gay. In 2018, emails released to theAssociated Press showed that conservatives had similarly opposed his support of the subsequent changes to the law.^[150]

In March 2016, as Indiana governor, Pence signed into law H.B. 1337, a bill that both banned certainabortion procedures and placed newrestrictions on abortion providers. The bill banned abortion if the reason for the procedure given by the woman was thefetus' race or gender or a fetal abnormality. In addition, the bill required that all fetal remains from abortions or miscarriages at any stage of pregnancy be buried or cremated, which according to theGuttmacher Institute was not required in any other state.^{[151][152][153][154]} The law was described as "exceptional for its breadth"; if implemented, it would have made Indiana "the first state to have a blanket ban on abortions based solely on race, sex or suspected disabilities, including evidence ofDown syndrome".^[152] Days after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision inWhole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, afederal court issued apreliminary injunction blocking the bill from taking effect, with U.S. district judgeTanya Walton Pratt determining that the bill was likely to be unconstitutional and that the State of Indiana would be unlikely to prevail at trial.^{[155][156][152]} The abortion bill was subsequently ruled unconstitutional in April 2018 by theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.^[157]

In June 2013, Pence was criticized for deleting comments of others posted on his official government Facebook page; he apologized.^[158]

On January 26, 2015, it was widely reported that Pence had planned to launch a state-run, taxpayer-funded news service for Indiana.^[159] The service, called "JustIN", was to be overseen by a former reporter forThe Indianapolis Star, and would feature breaking news, stories written by press secretaries, and light features.^[159] At the time, it was reported that the two employees who would run the news service would be paid a combined $100,000 yearly salary.^[159] The target audience was small newspapers which had limited staff, but the site would also serve to communicate directly with the public. The publisher of theCommercial Review ofPortland, Indiana, said, "I think it's a ludicrous idea ... the notion of elected officials presenting material that will inevitably have a pro-administration point of view is antithetical to the idea of an independent press."^[159] There was speculation that the news service would publish pro-administration stories that would make Pence look good in the event of a presidential run.^[160]

According to theAssociated Press, the idea "of stories prewritten for the media set off a wave of criticism from journalists around the country, who likened the Indiana endeavor to state-run media in Russia and China. Headlines like 'Pravda in the Plains' accompanied calls for Pence to scrap the idea."^[161] David A. Graham ofThe Atlantic regarded the announcement of JustIN as evidence of a disturbing changing trend in how the public gets news.^[162] After a week or so of controversy about the idea, Pence scrapped the idea saying, "However well-intentioned, after thorough review of the preliminary planning and careful consideration of the concerns expressed, I am writing you to inform you that I have made a decision to terminate development of the JustIN website immediately."^[163]

As governor, Pence attempted unsuccessfully to preventSyrian refugees from being resettled in Indiana.^[164] In February 2016, a federal judge ruled that Pence's order to cut off federal funds for a local non-profit refugee resettlement agency was unconstitutional; Pence unsuccessfully appealed.^[164] In December 2015, Pence said that "calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional".^[165]

Pence "repeatedly stonewalled public records requests as governor, often withholding documents or delaying their release if not denying them outright".^{[166][167][168]} As governor, Pence routinely used a personalAOL email account to conduct official business, according to public records. In 2016, hackers compromised the account and used it to sendfraudulent emails in an attempt to obtain money from Pence's contacts.^[169] While Pence's use of a private email account for state business is not prohibited by Indiana law, some of the emails discussed sensitive matters and homeland security issues.^[170] In March 2017, after Pence had become vice president, the State of Indiana released 29 emails to media outlets that had madepublic records requests, but withheld an undisclosed number of other emails, saying they weredeliberative or advisory and thus exempt from public disclosure.^[170] Cybersecurity experts andgovernment transparency advocates were surprised by Pence's use of a personal email account to conduct public business, given Pence's past attacks onHillary Clinton'suse of a private email server while U.S. secretary of state.^[170] In 2017, Indiana hired a private law firm for $100,000 to handle a backlog of public-records requests for Pence's personal AOL account email correspondence.^[166]

Pence ran for a second term as governor and was unopposed in the Republican primary on May 3, 2016. He was to face DemocratJohn R. Gregg in a rematch of the 2012 race. However, Pence filed paperwork ending his campaign on July 15, 2016, as Trump announced his selection of Pence ashis vice presidential running mate.^[171] Lieutenant GovernorEric Holcomb was nominated in Pence's place, and selectedSuzanne Crouch as his running mate.^[172][173] Holcomb went on to defeat Gregg in the general election.^[174]

Shortly before the2016 Indiana Republican presidential primary, Pence endorsed Texas U.S. SenatorTed Cruz, who would lose the primary to Trump.^[57] Pence then endorsed Trump after the latter became the party's presumptive nominee for president of the United States.^[175]

Donald Trump considered naming Pence as his vice presidential running mate along with other finalists including New Jersey governorChris Christie and former House speakerNewt Gingrich.^[176] Pence had stronger connections at the time to the politically influential big donors,the Kochs, than Trump did.^{[177][7][178][179][180]} It was widely reported on July 14 that Pence planned to end his (Indiana gubernatorial) re-election campaign and accept the Republican vice presidential nomination instead.^[181] The following day, Trump officially announced on Twitter that Pence would be his running mate.^{[182][183][184]}

Immediately after the announcement, Pence said he was "very supportive of Donald Trump's call to temporarily suspend immigration from countries where terrorist influence and impact represents a threat to the United States".^[185] Pence said he was "absolutely" in sync withTrump's Mexican wall proposal, saying Mexico was "absolutely" going to pay for it.^[186]

According to aFiveThirtyEight rating of candidates' ideology, Pence was the most conservative vice-presidential candidate in the last 40 years.^[187]

Pence calledDick Cheney his role model for vice president.^[188]

During Pence's preparations for thevice presidential debate in October 2016, Wisconsin governorScott Walker played the role of Democratic vice presidential nomineeTim Kaine.^[189] In Kaine's own debate prep, lawyerRobert Barnett was selected to play Pence.^[190] Following the debate, experts concluded Pence won against Kaine, with aCNN poll showing 48 percent of viewers thought Pence won and 42 percent believing Kaine won.^[191] Pence's "cooler" temperament was seen as an advantage compared to Kaine, who was perceived as more hotheaded.^[192][193]

On October 7, 2016,lewd comments made by Donald Trump in 2005 surfaced and gained heavy media attention.^[194] That day, Pence said to reporters, "I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them," but made clear that he was standing by Trump.^[195] In response to the revelation, Paul Ryan "uninvited" Trump from what would have been a joint campaign event. The Trump campaign attempted to substitute Pence for Trump at the event,^[196] but according toThe New York Times, Pence called Trump on October 8 and told him that he (Pence) would not appear at the event, and that Trump would need to handle the next 48 hours on his own, as Pence did not think he would be an effective surrogate for Trump.^[197]

According toBob Woodward's 2018 bookFear: Trump in the White House, in the midst of the scandal, then-Republican National Committee chairmanReince Priebus told Trump he should drop out of the race for the good of the party, and that Pence had agreed to replace Trump on the top of the ticket as the Republican presidential nominee, with formerSecretary of StateCondoleezza Rice agreeing to be Pence's running mate.^[198]

On October 10, 2016, Pence appeared on CNN and said, in response to rumors that he was leaving the ticket, that it was "absolutely false to suggest that at any point in time we considered dropping off this ticket" and that it is the "greatest honor of my life" to be nominated as Trump's running mate.^[199]

On November 8, 2016, Pence was elected vice president of the United States as Trump's running mate.^[200]

Soon after the election, he was appointed chairman of President-elect Trump's transition team.^[201] During the transition phase of theTrump administration, Pence was reported as holding a large degree of influence in the administration due to his roles as a mediator between Trump and congressional Republicans, for reassuring conservatives about Trump's conservative credentials, and his influence in determiningDonald Trump's cabinet.^[202][203]

On January 20, 2017, at noon, Pence became the 48thvice president of the United States,sworn into the office by justiceClarence Thomas.^[204]

On the first day in office (January 20), Pence performed various ceremonial duties, including swearing inJim Mattis asUnited States secretary of defense andJohn Kelly assecretary of homeland security.^[205] He also administered the oath of office to theWhite House senior staff on January 22, 2017.^[206]

Pence also sat in on calls made by President Trump to foreign heads of government and state such as Russian presidentVladimir Putin^[207] andAustralian prime ministerMalcolm Turnbull.^[208][209]

In January, Pence appointedJosh Pitcock as his chief of staff, whom he had known from hisgubernatorial andcongressional days.^[210] The following month, Jarrod Agen was tapped as deputy assistant to the president and director of communications to the vice president; his previous job being chief of staff forgovernor of MichiganRick Snyder through the time of theFlint water crisis.^[211] In July, Pitcock stepped down as chief of staff, and was succeeded in the position byNick Ayers, another longtime Pence advisor.^[212]

On February 5, 2017, Pence warnedIran "not to test the resolve" of the newTrump administration following theirballistic missile tests.^[213]

On February 7, 2017, Pence, in his dual constitutional role as president of theUnited States Senate made the first ever tie-breaking vote to confirm aCabinet member.^[214][215] He cast the deciding vote to break a fifty-fifty tie to confirmBetsy DeVos as thesecretary of education.^[216] Pence cast his second tie-breaking vote on March 30, voting to advance a bill to defundPlanned Parenthood.^[217] In 2018, Pence broke a tie to confirmJonathan A. Kobes for theU.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. This was the first-ever tie-breaking vote to confirm a judicial nominee in U.S. history. In total, Pence cast 13tie-breaking votes, the seventh-most in history and more than the previous four predecessors combined. (By comparison, his successor,Kamala Harris, cast a total of 33 tie-breaking votes, the most by any senate president, and more than the previous six predecessors combined.)

In April, Pence made a tour of the Asia-Pacific region. InSouth Korea, he met acting presidentHwang Kyo-ahn and condemnedNorth Korea'slatest missile launch.^{[218][219][220]} In Japan, Pence met Prime MinisterShinzō Abe and pledged to work with Japan, South Korea, and China "to achieve a peaceable resolution and the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," adding "The era of strategic patience is over and while all options are on the table."^[221][222] Pence subsequently traveled toJakarta,Indonesia, where he met with presidentJoko Widodo, toured the largest mosque in the region (theIstiqlal Mosque), and praised moderate Islam.^[223][224] Pence ended his trip with stops inSydney, Australia (where, after meeting with Malcolm Turnbull, he said the U.S. "intends to honor" a U.S.–Australia refugee resettlement agreement),^[225]Oahu, Hawaii, andAmerican Samoa.^[226]

On May 21, 2017, Pence delivered the commencement address at theUniversity of Notre Dame. Traditionally, the president delivers the address at Notre Dame in his inaugural year, but in 2017 Pence was invited instead when Trump decided to speak atLiberty University.^{[227][228][229][230]}

On June 30, 2017, Pence was appointed chair of theNational Space Council after Trump signed an executive order reestablishing the council.^[231] As chair, Pence held eight meetings from 2017 to 2020.^[232]

On October 8, 2017, Pence walked out of a game between theNFL'sIndianapolis Colts andSan Francisco 49ers after members of the 49ersknelt during the national anthem. Shortly afterwards, Pence commented viaTwitter, "President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or ournational anthem," adding, "While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I don't think it's too much to ask NFL players to respect the flag and our national anthem."^[233] Pence was widely criticized by various people for what was considered a publicity stunt. Democratic representativeAdam Schiff (CA-28) questioned how much taxpayer's money was used to fund Pence's actions,^[234] and CNN later estimated that the total cost of his eight hours of travel onAir Force Two to attend the game was about $242,500, not including ground transportation and security.^[235]49ers safetyEric Reid (the second NFL player afterColin Kaepernick to participate in the protests) told reporters it was predictable that Pence would walk out, knowing that most of the team were protesting.^[234] Reid also expressed doubt over the regularity Pence is in terms of attending Colts matches, and referenced a photograph of the vice president and his wife in Colts uniform that had been tweeted before the match,^[234] although the official photograph (right) proved otherwise. The photograph in question was first published in 2014.^[236] SportswriterPeter King wrote that the furor surrounding Pence had overshadowedPeyton Manning, who was being honored by the Colts, saying, "Pence trumped a day that belonged to the greatest football hero the state of Indiana has ever seen, and he did it for political purposes ... he stole Manning's last great day as a Colt. [He] will have to live with himself for that."^[234] The following year, Pence reacted positively on Twitter, after NFL owners unanimously decided to approve a new policy requiring all players to stand (or, given the option to stay in the locker room) during the national anthem, despite not consulting theNFL Players Association.^[237]

On February 1, 2018, it was announced that Pence would lead the presidential delegation to the2018 Winter Olympics, alongside his wife.^[238] Much of Pence's time atPyeongchang was affected by the ongoingNorth Korean crisis. Prior to theopening ceremony, on February 9, Pence skipped on a dinner held by South Korean presidentMoon Jae-in, as he would have shared a table with North Korea's ceremonial head of stateKim Yong-nam.^[239] Instead, he met with four North Korean defectors inPyeongtaek, alongside his special guest, Fred Warmbier (the father ofOtto Warmbier, who was arrested in North Korea for attempted theft, and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, before returning to the U.S. in a comatose state).^{[240][241][242]} At the ceremony, the Pences were seated in front of the North Korean delegates, and when North and South Korean athletes entered during the Parade of Athletes, they chose to stay seated, which prompted critics to accuse Pence ofhypocrisy in regard to the NFL protests.^[243][244] Pence was supposed to meet with the North Koreans on February 10, but they pulled out at the last day.^[245]

Over the next few months, the North Koreans started communicating more with their neighbors, as Supreme LeaderKim Jong-un secretly met with Chinese paramount leaderXi Jinping in March and then Moon Jae-in in an historicinter-Korean summit in April,^[246][247] and around the same time, ameeting between Trump and Kim was also proposed. On May 10, Pence accompanied Trump toAndrews Air Force Base as three American citizens were released by North Korea, and in an early morning interview withABC'sJonathan Karl, he said seeing the men back on American soil "was really one of the greatest joys of my life".^[248][249] Talks broke down later that month following comments made by Pence and Trump, comparing the situation to events in Libyaseven years previous, despite their voluntary disarmament of nuclear weapons in 2003.^[250] North Korean vice foreign ministerChoe Son-hui called Pence's remarks "ignorant and stupid".^[251] On May 24, Trump abruptly called off the summit with Pence in attendance,^[250] only for him to change his mind a day later,^[252] later announcing that it would still be scheduled totake place on June 12 in Singapore.^[253]

In October 2018, Pence gave a speech regarding China at theHudson Institute, accusing China of predatory economic practices, military aggression and trying to undermine President Trump. He said China "wants a different American president", and accused the country of meddling in U.S. elections. He said China was building "an unparalleled surveillance state" to suppress minorities, and accused it of engaging in "debt-trap diplomacy". In regards to Taiwan, he said "while our administration will continue to respect our One China Policy … Taiwan’s embrace of democracy shows a better path for all the Chinese people".^[254]The New York Times wrote the speech, with a tone much more hawkish than what U.S. officials previously used regarding China, was similar to a declaration of anew Cold War.^[255]

In September 2019, Pence attended official meetings withIrish prime ministerLeo Varadkar inDublin, Ireland but stayed at President Trump's resort in Doonbeg, 180 miles (290 km) away. Pence's schedule included four hours spent in transit in one day, and two flights onAir Force Two before the end of the next day. Costs for the limousine service alone totaled $599,000 according to State Department receipts, compared to President Obama's three-day trip to Dublin with the same limousine company totaling $114,000.^[256][257]

In February 2020, Pence defended debt- and deficit-spending as a measure to stimulate economic growth.^[258]

In May 2017, Pence filedFederal Election Commission paperwork to formGreat America Committee, apolitical action committee (PAC) that would be headed by his former campaign staffersNick Ayers and Marty Obst.^[259][260] Pence is the only vice president to have started his own PAC while still in office.^[261] Pence denied aNew York Times article's allegations that he would run for president in 2020, calling them "laughable and absurd", and said the article was "disgraceful and offensive".^[262]

Pence was a key player in theTrump–Ukraine scandal and theTrump impeachment inquiry. Pence had at least two phone conversations and an in-person meeting withVolodymyr Zelensky,President of Ukraine. Pence met with Zelensky in Poland on September 1, 2019, during an unexpected delay in U.S. military aid to Ukraine. Pence later told the press that he did not mention2020 presidential candidate and former vice presidentJoe Biden to Zelensky, but raised issues regardingUkrainian corruption.^[263]

After the inquiry was opened, Pence publicly stated his support of Trump's call for foreign investigation into Joe Biden and his sonHunter, saying, "I think the American people have a right to know if the vice president of the United States or his family profited from his position."^[264] On October 3, Pence stated, "My predecessor had a son who was paid $50,000 a month to be on a Ukrainian board at the time that Vice President Biden was leading the Obama administration's efforts in Ukraine, I think [that] is worth looking into."^[265]

Pence defended Trump's decision in January 2020 toassassinate the Iranian major general in theIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)Qasem Soleimani, promoting conspiracy theories that supposedly linked theal-Qaeda attacks on the United States to Iran. In a series oftweets, the vice president termed Soleimani "an evil man who was responsible for killing thousands of Americans". Pence insisted Soleimani had "assisted in the clandestine travel to Afghanistan of 10 of the 12 terrorists who carried out theSeptember 11 terrorist attacks", which critics said was his confusing the number of 9/11 hijackers (actually 19) and insinuating (without evidence) that the general was involved. Many experts responded that Pence's claims were unsubstantiated.^[266] Pence's spokeswomanKatie Waldman said that the dozen terrorists Pence referred to were those who had traveled through Afghanistan, ten of whom "were assisted by Soleimani".^[267]

On February 26, 2020, President Trump named Pence as the leader of theWhite House Coronavirus Task Force to combat the spread of theCOVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.^[268] Various public health officials and members of Congress had suggested the selection of a "Coronavirus Czar", though Trump said that would not be the title's name.^[269] As the leader of the task force, Pence coordinated efforts with theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention,Department of Health and Human Services,National Institutes of Health,Department of Homeland Security, andWhite House Office.^[270][271]

In April 2020, Pence exempted himself from theMayo Clinic's policy of wearing aface mask in the hospital during a visit. Pence defended his action, saying he needed to look staff "in the eye".^[272] The next day, the vice president's opponents criticized him for promoting "completely irresponsible public health messaging".^[273] Later, Pence acknowledged he should have worn a mask during the hospital visit, and did so two days later when visiting aventilator production facility.^[274]

In late June 2020, as coronavirus cases were spiking, Pence gave an optimistic press briefing where he made several misleading and false claims about the state of the coronavirus pandemic.^[275][276] He misleadingly argued that surges in cases were the result of increased testing, telling reporters that increases in new cases were "a reflection of a great success in expanding testing across the country".^[276] However, health experts noted that case growth outpaced the number of tests, and that the share of positive tests was increasing.^[277] Pence also falsely claimed that coronavirus fatalities were declining all across the country (Statisticshere), that the curve had been flattened, and that all 50 states were opening up.^[276] In private meetings with Republican senators, Pence urged them to focus on "encouraging signs". Pence told the senators that cases were increasing in only 3% of counties and 12 states; however, data at the time showed that cases were increasing in at least 5% of counties and in at least 20 states.^[278] On December 18, the Pences received thePfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, in front of a live audience at a televised event to show Americans that the vaccine is safe and effective.^{[279][280][281]}

Ahead of hispresidential campaign on February 28, 2019,Joe Biden referred to Pence as a "decent guy" in a speech inOmaha, Nebraska, when making an anecdote about an audience falling silent after Pence mentioned Trump's name. Biden later faced criticism for his complimentary remarks due to Pence's alleged anti-LGBT positions, which Biden would later apologize for and clarify by saying, "I was making a point in a foreign policy context, that under normal circumstances a Vice President wouldn't be given a silent reaction on the world stage." Biden had previously referred to Pence as a "decent guy" in 2018, and Pence and Biden exchanged conversations via phone before Pence's 2017 transition into the vice presidency.^[282]

In June 2019, the Democratic former New York City Council presidentAndrew Stein opined that Trump could improve his re-election chances by replacing Pence as his running mate with formerSouth Carolina governor and formerUnited States ambassador to the United NationsNikki Haley.^[283] Despite that, Trump said Pence will be his running mate. He declined to endorse Pence should his running mate seekin 2024 to succeed him, but said he would give it "very strong consideration".^[284]

In remarks about law enforcement during the2020 Republican convention, Pence said a federal security officer, Dave Underwood, "was shot and killed during the riots in Oakland", implying he was killed by rioters, when instead a man linked to the far-rightBoogaloo movement had exploited the unrest as a cover for murder.^{[285][286][287]}

On October 7, 2020, Pence participated in a debate withKamala Harris that was held byUSA Today in Salt Lake City, Utah, and moderated bySusan Page, the Washington bureau chief of the newspaper. The debate was held with adaptations designed to avoid contagion of theCOVID-19 virus given that the vice president had been in close contact with people who had been infected at a recent eventat the White House. Plexiglas partitions separated the candidates and masks were required for all attending except the candidates and moderator.^[288][a] By some estimates, Pence interrupted Harris twice as much as she interrupted him.^[289] Media outlets noted that near the end of the debate, a fly landed on Pence's head for almost two minutes.^[290][291] A CNN poll found that 59% of registered voters felt that Harris had won the debate, while 38% felt that Pence had.^[289]

On November 7, 2020, after several days of vote counting, Biden and Harris were declared by most major news networks to be the winners of the election.^[292] On December 14 the Electoral College confirmed the win, giving the Biden-Harris campaign 306 votes compared to 232 for the Trump–Pence campaign;^[293] however, Trumprefused to concede and insisted that he had actually won. Throughout November and December Trump and his campaign filed more than 50 lawsuits alleging election fraud and other irregularities; all of them were eventually rejected by judges.^[294] Trump also pressured Republican officials, lawmakers and eventhe Justice Department to take actions to overturn the election.^[295]

In late December 2020, a federal lawsuit was filed against Pence by Republican congressmanLouie Gohmert and 11 Arizona Republicans who would have become presidential electors had Trump actually won Arizona. The plaintiffs sought to give the vice president the power to reject state certified presidential electors in favour of "competing slates of electors" so that Biden's victory over Trump could be overturned.^{[296][297][298]} TheUnited States Department of Justice represented Pence in this case, and argued for its dismissal, stating that the lawsuit was a "walking legal contradiction" because it sought to grant power to the vice president, while suing the vice president.^[298] Within a week, the lawsuit was dismissed in theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and the appeal was rejected by aUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit panel, both due to the plaintiffs' lack ofstanding.^[299] Gohmert then appealed to the Supreme Court, which on January 7 tersely "denied" his petition.^[300]

In January 2021, Trump began to pressure Pence to take action to overturn the election. As vice president, Pence presided over the January 6, 2021,congressional joint session to count the electoral votes—normally a non-controversial, ceremonial event. In the days leading up to the session, Trump declared both in public and in private that Pence should use that position to overturn the election results inswing states and declare Trump–Pence the winners of the election.^[301] Pence demurred that theUnited States Constitution did not give him that power, but Trump falsely insisted that "The Vice President and I are in total agreement that the Vice President has the power to act."^[302] According toThe New York Times, multiple sources claim that Trump called Pence before he departed to certify the results urging him again one last time ultimately telling him, "You can either go down in history as apatriot, or you can go down in history as apussy."^[303] Before the start of theJoint Session, Pence stated in a "Dear Colleague" letter that the Constitution prevented him from deciding which electoral votes counted and which did not.^[304] According toPolitico, Pence was inspired byAl Gore presiding over his own defeat twenty years earlier during the2000 presidential election, when Pence was a newly-elected member of Congress.^[305]

On January 6, 2021, the day on which a joint session of Congress met tocount and certify the results of the Electoral College for the 2020 presidential election, Trump held a rally at which he urged listeners to go to the Capitol and repeatedly expressed the hope that Pence would "do the right thing".^[306] Many listeners then marched to the Capitol andstormed it.

On January 15,The Washington Post reported that Pence came "dangerously close" to the rioters during their occupation of the Capitol. Pence was not evacuated from the Senate chambers until 14 minutes after the initial breach of the Capitol was reported. He and his family were eventually ushered from the Senate chambers into a second-floor hideaway. One minute later, the mob rushed onto a stair landing only 100 feet away, from which they could have seen him enter the room if they had arrived a minute earlier.^[307] After his evacuation from the Senate chambers, his Secret Service detail wanted to move him away from the Capitol building but he refused to get in the car.^[308] Pence later approved the deployment of theNational Guard, which raised questions as the vice president is not the commander-in-chief.^[309][310] After the Capitol was cleared, Congress resumed its joint session, and officially certified the election results with Pence declaring Biden and Harris the winners.^[311]

During the siege, Trump criticized Pence as lacking "courage".^[312] EarlierL. Lin Wood, a lawyer associated with Trump, had called for Pence to be "executed" by "firing squad".^[313][314] In spite of the threats against Pence, Trump never reached out to Pence or inquired about his safety during the attack on the Capitol, according to sources close to the vice president.^[315][316] Aides believed that Pence was being set up as ascapegoat for Trump's failure to overturn the results of the election.^[317] Pence was described as very angry with Trump.^[318] The two did not speak for several days, until January 11 when they met at the White House to discuss the prior week's Capitol siege and the final days of their administration.^[319]

On January 20, Pence attended theinauguration of Joe Biden as president of the United States, unlike Trump. Afterwards, he left the Capitol with his successor, Kamala Harris.^[320]

Pence did not have a permanent place of residence in Indiana when he left the vice presidency. Official records indicated that Pence had not owned a residence in Indiana since 2013, having lived in the governor's mansion and then the vice president's residence in Washington. As a result, for several months after leaving office, he and his wife stayed at residences owned by various Indiana Republican politicians. It is believed that he was at one time staying in a cabin owned by his former lieutenant governor, Indiana GovernorEric Holcomb.^[321][322] In May 2021, the Pences bought a home inCarmel, Indiana.^[323]

In February 2021, it was announced that Pence would joinThe Heritage Foundation as a distinguished visiting fellow.^[324] He also joined theYoung America's Foundation conservative youth organization, with plans to launch a new podcast with the group in the coming months.^[325] At speaking engagements in the months after the end of the Trump administration, Pence spoke with "an almost reverence" of the former president, according to one journalist.^[326]

Pence narrated a four-part television series on the career of right-wing radio hostRush Limbaugh titledAge of Rush, which debuted onFox Nation in March 2021.^[327] Pence had previously cited Limbaugh as an inspiration for his career in talk radio and then in politics.^[328] In April 2021, it was reported that Pence signed a deal with publisherSimon & Schuster for two books, including an autobiography.^[329]

The day the Supreme Court overturnedRoe in June 2022, Pence toldBreitbart News: "Roe v. Wade has been consigned to the ash heap of history...Having been given this second chance for life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land."^[330]

Pence appeared in the July 2022 documentaryUnprecedented.^[331]

In October 2022, Pence condemned "unprincipledpopulism" and "Putin apologists" in the Republican Party.^[332]

Since leaving the vice presidency, Pence has distanced himself from Trump'sattempts to cast doubt on the 2020 presidential election and made high-profile speeches in early nominating states.^[333] Pence has also separated himself from Trump by endorsing candidates in several Republican primary elections in opposition to the candidate endorsed by Trump.^[334] In the primary forgovernor of Georgia, Pence endorsed incumbent governorBrian Kemp over the Trump-backed candidate, former senatorDavid Perdue. This was described as a "proxy battle" between Pence and Trump, with Pence's candidate Kemp winning the nomination easily.^[333] In the2022 Arizona gubernatorial election, Pence endorsedKarrin Taylor Robson while Trump endorsedKari Lake. In the2022 Wisconsin gubernatorial election Pence endorsed former Lieutenant GovernorRebecca Kleefisch; Trump supported businessman Tim Michels.^[335]

On February 9, 2023, it was reported that Pence had been subpoenaed by special counselJack Smith regarding the attack on the Capitol, following months of negotiation between Pence's attorneys and the special counsel.^[336][337] After several unsuccessful challenges to the subpoena by Pence's lawyers and by Trump himself, Pence testified before the grand jury on April 27, 2023, saying, "We'll obey the law, we'll tell the truth."^[338]

The same day as the subpoena was reported, Pence released a statement expressing support for "parental rights", especially regarding how teachers treat children who express different gender identities, which he described as left-wing efforts "to indoctrinate our children behind parents' backs". The statement was released through Advancing American Freedom, a communications group Pence founded in 2021 with political donations.^[339]

Ahead of the RNC in 2024, Pence released a statement condemning the new GOP stance on abortion, which echoed Trump's position that the issue should be determined by individual states. Pence described this shift as a "profound disappointment", arguing that it strips away "historic pro-life principles that have long been the cornerstone of the platform".^[340]

In October 2024, Pence said he supported the acquisition ofU.S. Steel by the Japanese companyNippon Steel, arguing it would prevent the world from becoming more reliant on steel exports from China.^[341] President Biden blocked the purchase in January 2025.^[342]

In January 2023, afterclassified documents were found at the home of President Joe Biden, Pence asked his lawyer to search his home "out of an abundance of caution". The attorney found around a dozen documents marked as classified in Pence's Indiana home and turned over the documents to theFBI. The discovery came after Pence had repeatedly said that he did not have classified documents.^[343] Pence has taken responsibility for the documents and said that he was unaware of his possession of them. The FBI and the Justice Department's National Security Division reviewed the incident. Pence indicated he would "fully cooperate".^[344] On February 10, the FBI searched his home.^[345] In June, the Department of Justice notified Pence that its investigation had ended and that no charges would be brought forward.^[346]

Polls of Republicans in 2021 regarding their preferred presidential candidate in 2024 implied that Pence could begin a campaign as a top-tier candidate if former President Trump were to forgo a run.^[347][348] At the same time, said polling also foretold a precipitous decline in Pence's polling numbers if Trump were to seek the presidency again.^[349] In light of this, there was a widespread view among both Republican leaders and grassroots Republicans that "Pence is dead in the early waters of 2024."^[350]

In May 2022,The New York Times reported that Pence was considering a presidential run regardless of whether Trump decided to run for a second term.^[333]

In 2023, Pence criticized former President Donald Trump, especially regarding the events that took place on January 6, 2021. While speaking at aGridiron Club Dinner, an event attended by politicians and journalists, Pence said that Trump was wrong to suggest that Pence had a right to overturn the election results. Pence went further, saying that Trump's words not only endangered him, but his family and everyone at the Capitol.^[351]

On June 5, 2023, Pence filed paperwork and officially launched his bid for the presidency.^[352] In July, Pence became the first 2024 Republican presidential candidate to visitUkraine, where he met PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy.^[353]

On October 28, 2023, Pence, who had weak fundraising and poll numbers, withdrew from the race.^[354] Much of his campaigning had taken place in Iowa.^[355]

On March 15, 2024, Pence announced that he would not endorse Trump, nor would he support Biden in the2024 presidential election.^{[356][357][358]} Pence did not attend the2024 Republican National Convention.^[359] On August 9, 2024, Pence reiterated that he would not endorse Trump, nor would he supportKamala Harris afterBiden withdrew from the race.^[360][361]

In September 2024, Pence began teaching seminar and lecture courses inpolitical science atGrove City College in Pennsylvania after being named its first Distinguished Fellow for Faith and Public Life. Teaching alongside the college president, Pence may join future classes at the western Pennsylvania college via video conference, depending on his schedule.^[362][363]

On January 16, 2025, speaking in Taipei, Pence urged President-elect Trump to avert a nuclear arms race by continuing to support an independent Taiwan as a key Asian ally.^[364] On January 20, 2025, Pence attendedTrump's second inauguration as a former vice president.^[365]

Pence and his wife,Karen (née Batten), met while he was in law school atIndiana University.^[10] They were married in 1985. Pence's father died in 1988, leaving his mother a widow with four grown children and two teenagers. Mike and Karen Pence have three children: Michael,Charlotte, and Audrey.^[366][367] Michael Pence is a pilot in theUnited States Marine Corps.^{[368][369][370]} During Pence's service in the House, his family lived inArlington, Virginia when Congress was in session and inColumbus, Indiana, during recesses.^[4][14] During an interview in 2002, Pence told a reporter that he would not have dinner alone with a woman other than his wife.^[371] On May 1, 2004, Pence's mother remarried – this time to Basil Coolidge Fritsch.^[372] In 2018, Pence's oldest brother,Greg, entered and won the political race to representIndiana's 6th congressional district in Congress (the seat previously held by Mike).^[373][374] Greg and Mike are similar enough in appearance that Greg once successfully acted as a decoy to lure the press away from his brother when Mike Pence was being touted as a potential running mate to Donald Trump.^[375][376]

In 2016 he was diagnosed with asymptomatic leftbundle branch block.^[377][378] In April 2021, Pence underwent surgery for apacemaker implant due to a slow heartbeat.^[379][380]

The family's pet rabbit,Marlon Bundo, was the subject ofa children's book authored by Pence's daughter,Charlotte.^[381]

Pence was raised in a Catholic family, was analtar server, and attended parochial school.^[37][382] He became aborn-again Christian in college, while a member of anondenominational Christian student group, and identified his first year—and specifically "a Christian music festival in Asbury, Kentucky, in the spring of 1978"^[383] referring to theIchthus Music Festival at thenAsbury College inWilmore, Kentucky—as the moment he made a "commitment to Christ".^[37][382] After that point, Pence continued to attendMass (where he met his wife) and was aCatholic youth minister.^[382] Pence called himself Catholic in a 1994 news piece, although by 1995, he and his family had joined anevangelicalmegachurch, the Grace Evangelical Church.^[37][382] In 2013, Pence said his family was "kind of looking for a church".^[37] In 2016, Pence and his wife regularly worshiped at College Park Church, a nondenominational church in Indianapolis.^[10] He has described himself as "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order", and as "a born-again, Evangelical Catholic".^[37][382] As one commentator put it, "Pence doesn't simply wear his faith on his sleeve—he wears the entire Jesus jersey."^[10]

In a 2002 statement on thefloor of the House of Representatives (reported in theCongressional Record), Pence told his colleagues "... I also believe that someday scientists will come to see that only the theory ofintelligent design provides even a remotely rational explanation for the known universe."^[384][385] When asked byChris Matthews in 2009 if he believed inevolution, Pence said "I believe with all my heart that God created the heavens and the earth, the seas and all that is in them. How he did that, I'll ask him about some day."^[386][387]

• Pence, Mike (2022).So Help Me God. New York:Simon & Schuster.ISBN 978-1982190330.
• Pence, Mike; Pence Bond, Charlotte (2023).Go Home for Dinner: Advice on How Faith Makes a Family and Family Makes a Life. New York:Simon & Schuster.ISBN 978-1982190361.

• List of Republicans who opposed the Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign
• Political positions of Mike Pence
• Electoral history of Mike Pence
• Vice presidency of Mike Pence