Mike Pence Joins the Growing Field of Republican Presidential Candidates for 2024 Election

This week, the Republican presidential contenders will include a variety of candidates for the 2024 election. Former Vice President Mike Pence is filing paperwork on Monday to declare his campaign for president, setting up a challenge to his former boss, Donald Trump. Pence will launch his bid for the Republican nomination with a video and kickoff event in Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday.

The current field of GOP contenders includes a literal former president, someone with no electoral experience, veterans, millionaire businessmen, and candidates who still pledge fealty to Ronald Reagan and those who think the GOP should be done with all that. The only senator in the race is Tim Scott of South Carolina, who entered the 2024 GOP presidential field eight years after senators defined the non-Trump presidential field.

Pence supporters see a lane for a candidate who can appeal to the party’s traditional base, while also being able to reach out to the more moderate voters who have been alienated by Trump’s rhetoric. Pence has a long history of public service, having served as a congressman, governor, and vice president. He is expected to file papers making his candidacy official with the Federal Election Commission.

The Republican Party is in a state of flux, with a wide range of candidates vying for the nomination. It remains to be seen which candidate will be able to capture the hearts and minds of the party’s base and win the nomination. With Pence officially entering the race, the competition is sure to heat up in the coming months.