Former Vice President Mike Pence is preparing to join the growing GOP presidential primary field next week, a person familiar with the plans said, according to NBC News.
Pence plans to kickoff his campaign with a speech in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 7, and while former President Donald Trump is widely viewed as the likely GOP nominee, Pence’s team considers the race “wide open.”
“We view this race as absolutely wide open, and Iowa is really going to solidify itself as the pivotal player,” the source said. “It’s a place that values Mike Pence’s principles — traditional conservative principles — deep-rooted faith and uncommon character.”
Earlier this year, attendees at the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) annual convention in Indiana booed former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday as he took the stage to address gun rights.
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“Well, hello NRA,” Pence said as attendees loudly booed the former VP in his home state.
In March, Pence told Fox News Digital he thinks he has an advantage if he decides to launch a run for the White House.
“I think the advantage that we have is I think the American people know the Pences,” he said. “By and large they know our story and our career, and some are getting to know it better every day. So, we think we have time to be discerning, to be reflective, to listen.”
Pence said he and his wife Karen “both believe that we’ll have a clear sense of our call this spring.”
In addition to Trump and Pence, other Republicans who have thrown their hat in the ring include former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, popular conservative Larry Elder, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
This was a breaking news story. The details were periodically updated as more information became available.
