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Mike Pence

Mike Pence (born 1959) is an American politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013, as Governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017, and as the 48th Vice President of the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States is a federal country in North America made up of 50 states, the District of Columbia as the seat of government, and territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam; its capital is Washington, D.C. The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The 2020 census (April 1, 2020) counted a resident population of 331,449,281, and the 435 seats of the House of Representatives are apportioned among the states on the basis of the census.Open the full entry from 2017 to 2021.

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Key facts

June 7, 1959Born in Columbus, Indiana

Mike Pence was born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a state in the Midwestern United States; its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. It was admitted to the Union on December 11, 1816, as the 19th state, and its population in the 2020 census (April 1, 2020) was 6,785,528.Open the full entry, one of six children of Edward and Nancy Pence, who ran a convenience store business in the town. His grandfather immigrated to the United States at age 17, and the family settled in the Midwest. He grew up in Columbus and graduated from Columbus North High School.⁠[1][2]

1981–1986Hanover College and Law School

He graduated from Hanover College in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in history, then attended Indiana University School of Law, earning a J.D. in 1986.⁠[1][3][2]

1986–1999Law, Policy Research and Broadcasting

After law school he practiced law. In 1991 he became president of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, a research organization in Fort Wayne. From 1994 Network Indiana syndicated his statewide radio program, The Mike Pence Show, which aired on 18 stations until September 1999; from 1995 to 1999 he also hosted a Sunday morning television program in Indianapolis.⁠[3][1]

2001–2013Member of the U.S. House of Representatives

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000 for Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, won a sixth term in 2010, and served in the House until 2013. During this period he served as chairman of the House Republican Study Committee and as chairman of the House Republican Conference.⁠[2][3][4][1]

While in Congress he visited soldiers from Indiana in Iraq or Afghanistan every year.⁠[2]

January 14, 2013Inaugurated as Governor of Indiana

He was elected the 50th Governor of Indiana in 2012 and inaugurated on January 14, 2013, serving until January 9, 2017. As governor he was also commander-in-chief of the Indiana National Guard.⁠[2][3]

2016Running Mate and Election

In July 2016 Donald Trump chose him as his vice-presidential running mate, and on November 8, 2016, the two were elected president and vice president.⁠[1]

January 20, 2017Inaugurated as 48th Vice President

On January 20, 2017, at the 58th inaugural ceremonies on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, he took office as the 48th Vice President of the United States.⁠[5][1]

2017–2018Tie-Breaking Votes in the Senate

As President of the Senate he cast 13 tie-breaking votes on 11 days between February 7, 2017, and December 21, 2018. His vote on February 7, 2017, was the first time a vice president broke a tie on a Cabinet nomination.⁠[6]

February 26, 2020Placed in Charge of the Federal Coronavirus Response

On February 26, 2020, President Donald Trump announced that he would lead the federal government’s coronavirus response, saying “Mike is going to be in charge.”⁠[7]

January 6–7, 2021Presiding Over the Electoral Vote Count

On January 6, 2021, the House and Senate met in joint session, with him as presiding officer, to count the electoral votes of the 2020 presidential election. The joint session was first called to order at 1:05 p.m. that day and finally dissolved at 3:44 a.m. on January 7. The announced result gave Joseph R. Biden Jr. 306 electoral votes and Donald J. Trump 232 for president, and Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisKamala Harris (born 1964) is an American politician and lawyer who served as Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017, as a U.S. senator from 2017 to 2021, and as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025.Open the full entry 306 and Pence 232 for vice president.⁠[8]

January 20, 2021End of Vice Presidency

His vice presidency ended in 2021. On January 20, 2021, at the 59th inaugural ceremonies, Kamala Harris took office as the 49th vice president.⁠[9][5]

Family

He met Karen Pence while attending Indiana University School of Law; they married in 1985 and have three children, Michael, Charlotte and Audrey.⁠[1][3]

Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts

The White House (2017–2021 administration archive, Michael R. Pence biography): Web page: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/people/mike-pence/ (opens in a new window).⁠[1]

State of Indiana (former governor Mike Pence biography): Web page: https://secure.in.gov/governorhistory/mikepence/2358.htm (opens in a new window).⁠[2]

National Governors Association (Governor Mike Pence biography): Web page: https://www.nga.org/governor/mike-pence (opens in a new window).⁠[3]

Sources

  1. Michael R. Pence (opens in a new window)
  2. Former Gov. Mike Pence: About the Former Governor (opens in a new window)
  3. Mike Pence (opens in a new window)
  4. Mike Pence | Biography, Vice Presidency, & Facts (opens in a new window)
  5. PAST INAUGURAL CEREMONIES (opens in a new window)
  6. OFFICIALLY RECORDED OCCASIONS WHEN VICE PRESIDENTS HAVE VOTED TO BREAK TIE VOTES IN THE SENATE (opens in a new window)
  7. President Trump appoints VP Mike Pence to lead the federal government's coronavirus response (opens in a new window)
  8. Congressional Record, Daily Digest (opens in a new window)
  9. Vice Presidents of the United States (opens in a new window)