Former Vice President Mike Pence will officially launch his widely anticipated campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 in Iowa next week, adding another candidate to the swelling Republican field and directly competing with his former boss.

According to two people familiar with Pence's plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss information before of the official announcement, he will hold a kickoff event in Des Moines on June 7, his 64th birthday. As part of the event, he is also anticipated to broadcast a video message.

PHOTO | COURTESY Mike Pence

His team sees early voting in Iowa as essential to his chances of winning, and advisors say he intends to campaign intensively for the conservative, evangelical Christian voters who make up a sizable portion of the electorate.

The campaign is anticipated to rely heavily on town halls and retail appearances to highlight Pence's personality as he attempts to emerge from the shadow of former President Donald Trump.

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Pence, who served in Congress and as governor of Indiana before being named Trump's campaign mate in 2016, had been an extremely loyal vice president until he disagreed with Trump in the 2020 election.

Trump had tried to convince Pence — and his fans — that Pence might somehow reject voters' will as he presided over the ceremonial tallying of the Electoral College ballots on January 6, 2021, despite the fact that the vice president has no such power. As the count was underway, a violent mob of Trump's supporters stormed the building, smashing through windows, assailing police and sending Pence, his family and his staff racing for cover as members of the mob chanted, "Hang Mike Pence!"

PHOTO | COURTESY Mike Pence

Pence has stated that Trump's "reckless words" put his family and everyone else in the Capitol that day in risk. According to him, "history will hold Donald Trump accountable."

Pence has spent the two-and-a-half years since then intentionally distancing himself from Trump as he prepares for the campaign. While he frequently supports the "Trump-Pence administration," he has also highlighted policy and personality disparities between the two men.

He has urged his party to move on from Trump's election grievances and has warned against the Republican Party's rising tide of populism. He chastised "Putin apologists" for failing to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin for his assault on Ukraine, distancing himself from Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.