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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Josh Salisbury

Mike Pence to launch US presidential campaign bid next week

Former US vice president Mike Pence will formally announce his bid for the White House at an event in Iowa next week.

The announcement will put him in direct competition with Donald Trump for the Republican party nomination for the 2024 race.

Mr Pence is expected to hold an event in Des Moines on June 7, and release a video message as part of the launch.

Pence, Trump’s running mate in 2016, had been a loyal vice president until he broke with Trump over the 2020 election.

He is a social conservative who has pushed for restricted access to abortion and has opposed LGBTQ+ rights.

In his bid to reject his defeat to Joe Biden, Trump had attempted to convince Mr Pence to reject the results of the election as he presided over the ceremonial counting of the electoral college votes on January 6, 2021.

A mob of Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol in the insurrection attempt, smashing through windows, attacking police and forcing Capitol staff to run for cover.

The former Vice President has said Trump’s “reckless words" endangered his family and everyone else who was at the Capitol that day and that “history will hold Donald Trump accountable."

“For four years, we had a close working relationship. It did not end well," Pence wrote in his book, ‘So Help Me God.’

Pence has spent the two-and-a-half years since then strategically distancing himself from Trump as he has laid the groundwork for the campaign.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is also planning to launch his campaign Tuesday evening at a town hall event in New Hampshire, according to US media.

The 60-year-old will confirm he is entering the race at a gathering of supporters in New Hampshire on Tuesday, NBC reported.

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