Former Vice President Mike Pence has been increasingly assertive in attending campaign-style events and in appearances that appear to pit him against former President Trump, finding a warm embrace from House Republicans along the way.
On Tuesday, Pence spoke at a National Republican Congressional Committee dinner about his “Young Guns” candidate program. And on Wednesday, Pence was welcomed to Capitol Hill by the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative group in the House, which Pence chaired from 2005 to 2006.
The moves put lawmakers at the center of tensions between Trump and his former deputy, whom he pressured to unilaterally cancel the 2020 election, predicting that the GOP is coming to terms with Trump’s role in the party going forward while he, too, and Pence are looking to 2024.
Members of the Republican Exploratory Committee meeting on Wednesday erupted in applause after Rep. Chip Roy (Texas) praised Pence for his courage and commitment to the Constitution on Jan. 6, according to sources and members on the floor, although many of the members’ faction voted to object to the certification of electoral votes.
The former vice president is slated to make numerous appearances in the coming weeks, putting him in direct conflict with Trump in some cases and fueling talk of a potential presidential campaign in others.
On Monday, Pence endorsed Karyn Taylor Robeson in the Arizona governor’s race. Robeson is up against Kari Lake, who is Trump’s preferred candidate. Both Pence and Trump will be in Arizona this weekend to campaign for their respective candidates.
Next week, Pence will speak to the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., one day before Trump speaks at an America First Policy Institute event in the nation’s capital. Pence will also travel to New Hampshire in the first week of August, returning to the early primary state and fueling further speculation about his 2024 intentions.
Pence’s busier schedule comes amid House Select Committee hearings on Jan. 6, where Trump’s role in the Capitol riot was at the fore and raised new questions about his viability if he runs for president again in 2024 d. One hearing focused specifically on Pence’s decision to bow to pressure from Trump and his allies and certify the 2020 election.
The committee is still deciding whether to ask Pence or Trump to appear before the committee. His potentially final prime-time hearing is scheduled for Thursday night.
But many members of the Republican Party are unwilling to pick sides in the Trump-Pence showdown, at least not before the midterm elections, publicly downplaying or denying there is any discomfort or tension with members embracing the former vice president.
“Both men, Trump and Pence, have a role to play in helping House Republicans regain their majority, and each may play a stronger role depending on the congressional districts,” said Congressman Andy Barr (R -Ky.) . “The president is doing his job. He’s doing his job. They are not mutually exclusive.”
“The president and the vice president had disagreements about exactly what the role of the vice president was and how much he could influence the proceedings themselves. And our area gets that, you know. But I think, overall, they still like both,” said Congressman Randy Weber (R-Texas).
But members agreed that Pence’s welcome from Republican lawmakers this week showed he still has friends on Capitol Hill, which could be an asset in the presidential campaign.
Rep. Jim Banks (D-Ind.), the current chairman of the Republican Exploratory Committee, reportedly said early last year that Pence was “at the top of his list” for the GOP presidential nominee in 2024. But Banks also embraced Trump in many ways, crediting him with bringing working-class voters to the Republican Party and counter-messaging against the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Pence steered clear of the 2024 talks at Wednesday morning’s meeting, lawmakers said, even though the topic came up.
“I’m sure he’s interested in serving. So we’ll see what happens — not necessarily as president, but we’ll see what happens. And we’ll see what his popularity level is. said Congressman Dan Meuser (R-Pa.).
Pence has spent recent months talking to state and local Republican groups outlining his “Freedom Agenda,” which details his policy views on taxes, education, government regulations, foreign policy and culture war issues such as rules surrounding transgender athletes. Later on Wednesday, Pence is scheduled to give a speech in South Carolina about overturning Roe v. Wade.
He also campaigns for Republican House lawmakers and candidates and offered to do more for members during Wednesday’s meeting.
“I welcome the vice president to come out,” said Congressman Don Bacon (R-Neb.), whom Pence has already traveled with to campaign. “In the end, it’s all about values, ideas and policies. And I think if we can bring that to the forefront and push the personality thing aside, that’s what we need to focus on.”
Some Republican lawmakers have openly expressed concern about the prospect of Trump announcing his candidacy this summer, fearing it would undermine the GOP’s momentum heading into the midterm elections and turn November’s election into a referendum on the former president.
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“I think we’re going to have a crowded field for president. I imagine most of it will play out later and people will choose their candidates in a crowded primary field,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters when asked if he would oppose Trump will either remain neutral in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
But some feel differently, demonstrating the grip Trump still has on the GOP despite some lawmakers opening up to Pence. Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) tweeted that he wished Trump had announced a 2024 election.
“Pence is a great guy and he’s going to do what he wants. I think everybody is preparing in case Trump doesn’t run, whether it’s Mike Pompeo or Nikki Haley or one of them,” Long said. “If someone were to run against Trump, it would be reckless.”
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