Former Vice President Mike Pence announced the suspension of his campaign for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination to a standing ovation at the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas. Pence acknowledged that it had been an uphill battle and expressed no regrets, urging the American people to hold fast to their faith, family, and the Constitution. Pence’s campaign had struggled to gain traction, with low fundraising and poor polling performance. His announcement comes just before the third presidential debate, for which he had not qualified. Pence promised to continue championing Republican leaders despite ending his campaign. He did not disclose whether he would endorse any other candidates.
Pence’s campaign faced difficulties in differentiating himself from former President Donald Trump without alienating Trump’s supporters. His fundraising efforts were lackluster, with significant debts and minimal individual donations. As Trump faced indictments for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, Pence’s opposition to Trump became more prominent. He frequently defended his decision to oppose Trump’s efforts, which many Republican voters disagreed with. Pence’s campaign focused on fundraising to secure a spot in the upcoming Republican debate but had not confirmed whether he met the requirements. Only four candidates had verified their qualification for the debate at that time.
Pence’s split with Trump after the 2020 election impacted his campaign. Pence’s role in the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, was scrutinized when he refused to overturn the election results. Trump blamed Pence for not supporting his plans, leading Pence to publicly rebuke Trump and his followers. Pence emphasized that he had no authority to overturn the election. Trump was indicted for his alleged role in trying to overturn the election, with the indictment mentioning Pence more than 100 times.
President Joe Biden criticized Pence’s campaign, highlighting his position on abortion and involvement in election denialism. Other Republican candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, expressed support for Pence after his announcement. Trump did not comment on Pence’s decision to suspend his campaign. Earlier speakers at the event, including Sen. Tim Scott and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, praised Pence’s leadership and integrity. Former Gov. Chris Christie also expressed gratitude for Pence’s service, and Nikki Haley commended his faith and dedication to America and Israel. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis thanked Pence for his principled conservatism.