Former US Vice-President Mike Pence has formally submitted paperwork to enter the Republican field of candidates for president, which is getting more and more crowded.
On Wednesday in Iowa, a state with early voting, Mr. Pence, 63, will formally launch his campaign with a speech, a town hall event, and a video.
His decision places him against Donald Trump, with whom he held the White House from 2017 to 21.
The former president is currently leading the race in the polls by a wide margin.
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With support in the low single digits, Mr. Pence is typically positioned in a distant third place in surveys.
The former governor of Indiana and congressman is anticipated to present himself as a baggage-free continuation of the conservative agenda of the Trump administration.
Can Mike Pence convince evangelicals to reject Trump?
Throughout the majority of their four years in office, Mr. Pence—who identifies as “a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order”—was Mr. Trump’s steadfastly devoted vice president.
But ever since the brawl by Trump fans in the US Capitol in January 2021, he has distanced himself from his former leader.
When he oversaw the certification of results in Congress, Mr. Trump put pressure on Mr. Pence to annul Joe Biden’s victory and criticized him for lacking “courage” when he refused.
Some protesters were heard yelling “hang Mike Pence” as they stormed the corridors of Congress, and many Trump loyalists consider him as a traitor.
The former vice president said in March that Mr. Trump had “endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day” by encouraging the rioters.
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What follows is what?
In the upcoming months, candidates for the Republican nomination will start their campaigns and hold a series of TV debates.
Next February, each state’s primary elections will take place.
At the Republican Convention in the summer of 2024, the candidate with the most support will be named the winner.
The general election in November 2024 looks to pit the nominee against Democrat Joe Biden.
Who are the Republican candidates who are not Donald Trump?
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Mr. Pence has spent months preparing for his campaign and is counting on a good showing in Iowa.
A significant vote bloc in the state, religious conservatives supported Texas Senator Ted Cruz in his narrow victory over President Trump in 2016.
It was thought that Mr. Pence’s appeal to evangelical voters contributed to the success of his vice presidential running mate.
Tim Scott of South Carolina and Nikki Haley, a former US ambassador to the UN, are two other contenders in the race with whom he will have to compete for evangelical support.
The Democratic National Committee dismissed Mr. Pence as Mr. Trump’s “Maga wingman,” claiming that his candidacy would push the Republican field “even further to the extremes.” Make America Great Again is the acronym for Donald Trump’s campaign anthem.
Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and widely regarded as Mr. Trump’s main opponent, is currently polling in a distant second place. Both current North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie want to run this week.
There is growing concern that a big field may split the anti-Trump vote and throw the party’s nomination to Mr Trump again.
