Mike Pence, former U.S. Vice President, has filed paperwork to join the increasingly crowded field of Republicans running for president ahead of the 2024 election.
Mr Pence, 63, who is set to formally launch his campaign on Wednesday at a rally outside Des Moines, would be challenging Donald Trump, who he served as his Vice.
He’s planning to campaign extensively in Iowa, the first nominating state.
His campaign would come a day after ex-Governor, Chris Christie is expected to enter the race and the same day Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota is set to join.
Mr Pence, who filed the necessary papers to run with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), has polled in the single digits in every public survey taken so far, ahead of the primary.
Though, he was Mr Trump’s most loyal advocate throughout their time in office together.
Mr Pence, who filed paperwork declaring his candidacy, was once a supporter and defender of Mr Trump but split with his former boss after January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Advisers to Mr Pence, a former governor of Indiana, see Iowa as geographically hospitable to the brand of conservatism he practiced before the Trump era.
Mr Trump began a pressure campaign on Mr Pence to thwart Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s Electoral College victory from being certified after he lost the 2020 election.
Mr Pence refused to use his ceremonial role in overseeing the certification at the Capitol to advance Mr Trump’s aims.
On January 6, a pro-Trump mob attacked the Capitol, with some of his supporters chanting, “Hang Mike Pence!” Since then, the split between the two has become irrevocable.
