Former VP Mike Pence to announce 2024 presidential campaign next week

Former Vice President Mike Pence is expected to announce his 2024 presidential nomination next week in De Moines, Iowa, according to a source familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

The announcement is expected to be made on June 7, Pence’s 64th birthday, during a kickoff event. Pence is also expected to release a video message about his campaign. 

Pence has been preparing his campaign for the past several months leading to the announcement by visiting early voting states and announcing a super PAC that is supporting his campaign. The super PAC, Committed to America, hopes to reintroduce Pence to voters as a potential presidential candidate, not just a former vice president. 

"People know Mike Pence, they just don't know him well," co-chair Scott Reed told reporters earlier this month. "This campaign is going to reintroduce Mike Pence to the country as his own man, not as vice president, but as a true economic, social and national security conservative—a Reagan conservative."

The former vice president plans to focus his campaign on traditional GOP themes, including fiscal responsibility, the expansion of free markets, and supporting American allies abroad.

His campaign trail is expected to start in Iowa, one of the early voting states that his team sees as critical to Pence’s election. As a social conservative, Pence plans to appeal to conservative, Christian voters by opposing abortion rights. 

"We view this race as absolutely wide open, and Iowa is really going to solidify itself as the pivotal player," the person familiar with Pence's plans said. "It's a place that values Mike Pence's principles — traditional conservative principles — deep-rooted faith and uncommon character."

Pence would join former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, among five others who are running for the Republican nomination.

According to the majority of national polls, Trump is leading in first place for the Republican nomination, followed by DeSantis.