On Friday, former vice president Mike Pence officially suspended his presidential campaign for 2024 after months of struggling to gain traction.
Since the beginning of his campaign, Pence had faced a series of obstacles—the most significant being the internal division and fracturing of the Republican Party in the wake of the 2020 election and insurrection. He also faced blows from other prominent Republican contenders including former president Donald Trump who continually praised other candidates over Pence. Furthermore, Pence’s campaign was lacklustre compared to other Republican front-runners who had much better financial backing, name recognition, and broad-based appeal.
In an official statement, Pence outlined his reasons for dropping out and emphasised the need for the Republican Party to come together in order to achieve victory in the 2024 election. He also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the hundreds of supporters who had worked to bolster his campaign.
The suspension of Pence’s campaign marks a significant end to what many had seen as a key player in the 2024 Republican lineup. While Pence may no longer be in the running, it appears that the former vice president may still have a role to play in the Republican Party going forward. In the statement Pence mentioned a potential move to a “higher calling” which could involve him taking a leading role in what many have called the “Reunited Republican Party.”
Many political commentators and analysts believe that Pence may be the best candidate to effectively unite the party’s fractured factions. It remains to be seen if he will in fact pursue this goal, though one thing is certain: Mike Pence has left a lasting legacy in American politics and his contributions to the Republican Party will not be forgotten.