Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Before becoming vice president, he was elected the 50th Governor of Indiana (2013–2017) and represented his state in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 until 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Pence led the House Republican Conference from 2009 to 2011 and became associated with the Tea Party movement during his time in Congress.
Selection as running mate and vice presidency
On July 14, 2016, the campaign of Donald Trump announced that Pence would be its running mate in the 2016 presidential contest. The Trump–Pence ticket defeated the Democratic ticket in the November general election, and Pence was inaugurated as Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2017. He served one term alongside President Trump.
2020 election and certification
In the 2020 presidential election the Trump–Pence ticket was defeated by the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, a result associated with the broader 2020 election. Following the election, President Trump repeatedly made unsupported claims that the results were fraudulent and pressured officials, including Pence, to invalidate or refuse certification of certain state returns. Pence declined to take actions outside established constitutional and statutory procedures and ultimately certified the Electoral College results on January 6, 2021, after a violent breach of the United States Capitol.