Mike Pence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Pence
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Official portrait, 2017
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| 48th Vice President of the United States | |
| In office January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Joe Biden |
| Succeeded by | Kamala Harris |
| 50th Governor of Indiana | |
| In office January 14, 2013 – January 9, 2017 |
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| Lieutenant |
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| Preceded by | Mitch Daniels |
| Succeeded by | Eric Holcomb |
| Chair of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Leader | John Boehner |
| Preceded by | Adam Putnam |
| Succeeded by | Jeb Hensarling |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana |
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| In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | David M. McIntosh |
| Succeeded by | Luke Messer |
| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Richard Pence
June 7, 1959 Columbus, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (from 1983) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (until 1983) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Charlotte |
| Relatives | Greg Pence (brother) John Pence (nephew) |
| Residences | Carmel, Indiana, U.S. |
| Education |
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| Signature |  |
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Other offices
2020–2021: Chair of the White House Coronavirus Task Force
2017–2020: Chair of the National Space Council 2005–2007: Chair of the Republican Study Committee |
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Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He was vice president under President Donald Trump. Pence is a member of the Republican Party.
Before becoming vice president, Pence was the 50th governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Indiana from 2001 to 2013.
Pence and Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. After the election, Trump claimed the election was unfair and asked Pence to help overturn the results. Pence stated that the Constitution did not give him the power to do so. On January 6, 2021, he oversaw the official counting of the votes that confirmed Biden and Harris as the winners.
After his vice presidency, Pence distanced himself from Trump. He ran for president in 2024 but ended his campaign in October 2023. On May 4, 2025, Pence received the JFK Profile in Courage Award for his actions on January 6, 2021.
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Early Life and Education
Michael Richard Pence was born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana. He was one of six children. His father, Edward Joseph Pence Jr., ran a group of gas stations and was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War.
Pence grew up in a family that was both Roman Catholic and part of the Democratic Party. As a young man, he volunteered for the local Democratic Party. He said he was inspired by leaders like John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
He graduated from Columbus North High School in 1977. He then earned a degree in history from Hanover College in 1981. Later, he got a law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1986.
While in college, Pence's views began to change. He became an evangelical, born-again Christian. His political views also shifted toward the Republican Party, influenced by President Ronald Reagan.
Early Career and Path to Congress
After law school, Pence worked as a lawyer. He ran for Congress in 1988 and 1990 but did not win either election.
In the 1990s, Pence became a radio and television talk show host in Indiana. He hosted The Mike Pence Show, where he discussed politics. He described himself as a conservative, but calmer than other hosts like Rush Limbaugh.
Pence stopped his radio show in 1999 to focus on running for Congress again. In 2000, he was successfully elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives (2001–2013)
Pence served in the House of Representatives for twelve years, representing districts in eastern Indiana. He described himself as "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order." He was known for his strong conservative beliefs and was a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
During his time in Congress, Pence became a leader in the Republican Party. He was the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative House members. Later, he was elected as the Republican Conference chairman, which was the third-highest Republican leadership job in the House at the time.
Pence was considered a possible presidential candidate in 2008 and 2012 but chose not to run. Instead, he decided to run for governor of his home state, Indiana.
Governor of Indiana (2013–2017)
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Pence was elected governor of Indiana in 2012 and took office in January 2013. As governor, he focused on several key areas.
Economy and Taxes
Pence's main goal was to cut taxes. In 2013, he signed a law that created the largest tax cut in Indiana's history. This included lowering the state income tax and getting rid of the inheritance tax. He also signed a law to lower the corporate income tax over several years.
Under his leadership, Indiana's state budget had a large reserve of money. However, the state's economic growth was sometimes slower than the national average.
Education
Pence supported using state money for pre-schools, charter schools, and voucher programs, which help families pay for private school. He helped create Indiana's first state-funded preschool program.
He also opposed the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a set of national education goals. In 2014, Indiana became the first state to officially withdraw from Common Core.
Religious Freedom Law
In 2015, Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The law was meant to protect people's religious beliefs. However, many people worried it could be used to discriminate against LGBT people.
The law caused a large public backlash. Businesses, sports organizations like the NCAA, and other groups spoke out against it. In response to the criticism, Pence signed a new version of the law. The changes were made to make it clear that the law could not be used to discriminate.
Vice Presidency (2017–2021)
In July 2016, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, chose Pence to be his vice presidential running mate. Pence ended his campaign for re-election as governor to join the national ticket. On November 8, 2016, Trump and Pence won the presidential election.
Pence was sworn in as the 48th vice president on January 20, 2017.
Role in the Administration
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As vice president, Pence was a key advisor to President Trump. He often acted as a link between the White House and Republicans in Congress. He also led important groups, including the National Space Council and the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
In his role as president of the United States Senate, Pence cast 13 tie-breaking votes. This was more than any vice president in recent history. One of his tie-breaking votes confirmed Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education.
COVID-19 Pandemic
In February 2020, President Trump appointed Pence to lead the White House Coronavirus Task Force. This group was responsible for managing the U.S. government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pence coordinated efforts between different government health agencies.
In December 2020, Pence and his wife received the COVID-19 vaccine on live television. They did this to show the public that the vaccine was safe and effective.
2020 Election and January 6th
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After the 2020 election, President Trump refused to accept the results. He pressured Pence to use his role on January 6, 2021, to block the certification of Joe Biden's victory.
Pence refused, stating that the Constitution did not give him that authority. On January 6, as Congress met to count the electoral votes, a large crowd of Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building. Pence and other lawmakers were evacuated to safe locations.
After the Capitol was secured, Congress returned to work. Pence officially certified the election results, declaring Joe Biden and Kamala Harris the winners. Pence later attended Biden's inauguration, though Trump did not.
Post-Vice Presidency (2021–Present)
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After leaving office, Pence and his family moved back to Indiana. He joined conservative organizations like The Heritage Foundation and the Young America's Foundation. He also began giving speeches and writing a book about his life.
Pence began to publicly disagree with Trump, especially about the events of January 6. He endorsed different candidates than Trump in some Republican primary elections.
2024 Presidential Campaign
On June 5, 2023, Pence announced he was running for president in the 2024 election. He campaigned in early-voting states like Iowa. However, his campaign struggled to gain support and raise money.
On October 28, 2023, Pence withdrew from the presidential race. In March 2024, he announced that he would not endorse Donald Trump for president.
Personal Life
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Pence married his wife, Karen, in 1985. They have three children: Michael, Charlotte, and Audrey. Their son Michael is a pilot in the United States Marine Corps.
Pence is a devout Christian. He has described himself as "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order." His faith has played a major role in his life and political career.
In April 2021, Pence had surgery to have a pacemaker implanted to help with a slow heartbeat.
Images for kids
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Congressman Pence visits U.S. soldiers in Mosul, Iraq, in 2006.
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Governor Pence addresses Indiana State Military at the Indiana War memorial on Veterans Day, 2014.
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Governor Pence at the dedication of a new veterans' clinic, March 2016.
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Pence at the 500 Festival Parade in Indianapolis, 2015
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Pence speaks at a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona, August 2016.
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Pence being sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on January 20, 2017
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Vice President Mike Pence, Second Lady Karen Pence, and Major General Courtney P. Carr stand for the national anthem.
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Pence with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at the 2018 Winter Olympics
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Pence (second from left) during the U.S. military raid on ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on October 26, 2019
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Former Vice President and fellow Hoosier Dan Quayle and Marilyn Quayle with Pence in 2019
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Pence and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force brief the media in March 2020.
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Pence greeting supporters in Iowa, July 2023
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Pence at the 2024 Career Education Convention
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Pence at Taylor University in 2019
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See also
In Spanish: Mike Pence para niños
- List of Republicans who opposed the Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign
- Political positions of Mike Pence
- Electoral history of Mike Pence
- Vice presidency of Mike Pence
