Mike Pence

Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 50th governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017, and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana from 2001 to 2013.

Born in Columbus, Indiana, Pence graduated from Hanover College and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. After losing two House bids in 1988 and 1990, he was a conservative radio and television talk show host from 1994 to 1999. He was first elected to the House in 2000, representing Indiana's 2nd district from 2001 to 2003 and 6th district from 2003 to 2013. During his time in Congress, he chaired the Republican Study Committee (2005–2007) and the House Republican Conference (2009–2011). Pence was elected governor of Indiana in 2012. As governor, Pence enacted Indiana's largest tax cut, pushed for more funding for private education initiatives, and signed multiple anti-abortion bills. He also signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which encountered resistance from moderate members of his party, the business community, and LGBT advocates. Facing backlash, Pence approved changes to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and other factors.

In 2016, presidential nominee Trump selected Pence as his running mate in the presidential election. After they won the general election, Pence went on to serve as vice president from 2017 to 2021, chairing the National Space Council and the White House Coronavirus Task Force during his term. In 2020, Trump and Pence lost their bids for re-election to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Trump refused to concede and challenged the results. Pence, who was tasked with presiding over the certification of the U.S. Electoral College vote count on January 6, 2021, faced pressure from Trump and Republican activists to block or delay certification. He declined to do so and ultimately oversaw the certification of Biden and Harris as the winners. When Congress met at the United States Capitol to certify the results, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building in an effort to disrupt the process. Pence remained at the Capitol and completed the certification after order was restored.