Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Mike Pence

How Mike Pence built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Michael Richard Pence is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 48th Vice President of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A Republican, he was the 50th Governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that, he served as a U.S. Representative for Indiana from 2001 to 2013.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1981: First representative from Indiana to hold a House leadership position since 1981

In January 2009, Pence was the first representative from Indiana to hold a House leadership position since 1981.

1983: Worked as Admissions Counselor

From 1981 to 1983, after graduating from Hanover, Pence worked as an admissions counselor at the college.

1986: Began Private Law Practice

In 1986, after graduating from law school, Pence began working as an attorney in private practice.

1988: Lost House Bid

In 1988, Pence unsuccessfully bid for a seat in the House of Representatives.

1988: Hired to host radio show

Shortly after his first congressional campaign in 1988, radio station WRCR-FM hired Pence to host a weekly half-hour radio show, Washington Update with Mike Pence.

1990: Second Unsuccessful House Bid

In 1990, Pence ran for the House a second time but lost, leading him to quit his job to focus on the campaign.

1992: Began hosting daily talk show

In 1992, Pence began hosting a daily talk show on WRCR, The Mike Pence Show, in addition to a Saturday show on WNDE in Indianapolis.

1993: Stepped down as president of Indiana Policy Review Foundation

In 1993, Pence stepped down as president of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, a position he held since 1991.

April 11, 1994: Network Indiana syndicated The Mike Pence Show statewide

Beginning on April 11, 1994, Network Indiana syndicated The Mike Pence Show statewide, reaching as many as 18 radio stations in Indiana.

1994: Radio Talk Show Host

In 1994, Pence became a conservative radio talk show host.

1994: Referenced Republican Revolution

In November 2006, Pence's announcement focused on a "return to the values" of the Newt Gingrich-headed 1994 Republican Revolution.

1995: Hosted TV Show

From 1995, Pence also hosted a weekend public affairs TV show likewise titled The Mike Pence Show on Indianapolis TV station WNDY.

1999: Ended Radio and TV Shows

In 1999, Pence ended his radio and television shows to focus on his 2000 campaign for Congress.

2000: Focused on 2000 campaign for Congress

In 2000, Pence focused on his campaign for Congress, which he eventually won.

2000: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2000, Pence was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Indiana's 2nd congressional district.

2001: Opposed No Child Left Behind Act

In 2001, during his first year in office, Pence opposed President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind Act.

2002: 2nd district renumbered the 6th

In 2002, The 2nd congressional district was renumbered the 6th.

2003: Opposed Medicare Prescription Drug Expansion

In 2003, Pence opposed President Bush's Medicare prescription drug expansion.

2005: Chairman of Republican Study Committee

From 2005 to 2007, Pence was chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

November 2006: Announced Candidacy for Republican Party Leader

In November 2006, Pence announced his candidacy for leader of the Republican Party (minority leader) in the United States House of Representatives.

2006: Re-elected to House

In 2006, Pence defeated Democrat Barry Welsh in the House election and was re-elected.

2007: End of term as Chairman of Republican Study Committee

From 2005 to 2007, Pence was chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

2008: Re-elected to House

In 2008, Pence defeated Democrat Barry Welsh in the House election and was re-elected again.

January 2009: Elected Republican Conference Chairman

In January 2009, Pence was elected as the Republican Conference chairman.

2009: Funding Source for Rail Improvement Initiative

In 2009, the Indiana Gateway project, which was a $71.4 million passenger and freight rail improvement initiative, was paid for by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

September 2010: Top choice for president

In September 2010, Pence was the top choice for president in a straw poll conducted by the Values Voter Summit.

2010: Re-elected to House

In 2010, Pence defeated Democrat Barry Welsh in the House election and was re-elected for a fourth time.

2010: Indiana Maintains AAA Credit Ratings

Since 2010, before Pence assumed office, Indiana has maintained AAA credit ratings with the three major credit-rating agencies. These ratings were upheld throughout Pence's tenure as governor.

May 2011: Announced Run for Governor

In May 2011, Pence announced that he would be seeking the Republican nomination for governor of Indiana in 2012.

2012: Mentioned as Possible Presidential Candidate

In 2008 and 2012, Pence was mentioned as a possible Republican candidate for president.

2012: Elected Governor of Indiana

In 2012, Pence was elected governor of Indiana.

January 14, 2013: Sworn in as Governor of Indiana

On January 14, 2013, Pence was sworn in as the 50th governor of Indiana.

June 12, 2013: Legislature Overrides Veto on Local Tax Bill

On June 12, 2013, the Indiana Legislature overrode Governor Pence's veto of a bill retroactively authorizing a local tax, known as the Jackson–Pulaski tax fix. The bill addressed a county income tax used to fund jail facilities, where a legally required tax reduction had not been implemented. Republican legislators largely voted against Pence, while most Democrats supported his veto.

June 2013: Criticism for Deleting Facebook Comments

In June 2013, Mike Pence faced criticism for deleting comments posted by others on his official government Facebook page, which led to an apology.

2013: Tax Reform Prioritized and Achieved

In 2013, Mike Pence prioritized tax reform, specifically a ten percent income-tax rate cut. Although the ten percent cut was not achieved, state taxes were successfully cut by five percent, and the inheritance tax was eliminated. The legislative package was described as the "largest tax cut in our state's history, about $1.1 billion dollars".

2013: Signed Law Blocking Local Minimum Wage

In 2013, Pence signed a law blocking local governments in Indiana from requiring businesses to offer higher wages or benefits beyond those required by federal law.

2013: School Voucher Program Expansion

In 2013, legislation signed into law by Pence greatly increased the number of students in Indiana who qualify for school vouchers, making it one of the largest voucher programs in the United States.

2014: Establishment of State Preschool Pilot Program

In 2014, Pence helped establish a $10 million state preschool pilot program in Indiana. He also testified before the state Senate Education Committee to convince fellow Republicans to approve the plan, successfully reviving it after initial defeat, addressing Indiana's status as one of the few states without direct funds for poor children's preschool. Demand for the program far exceeded capacity, and Pence initially declined to apply for federal funding due to concerns about federal intrusion, but later reversed course after facing criticism.

2014: Call for Repeal of Common Core Standards

In 2014, Pence opposed the Common Core State Standards Initiative and called for its repeal in his State of the State address. The Indiana General Assembly subsequently passed a bill to repeal the standards, making Indiana the first state to do so.

2014: Bill Signed Allowing Firearms in Vehicles on School Property

In 2014, Pence signed a bill allowing firearms to be kept in vehicles on school property, despite opposition from Indiana school organizations.

2014: Support for Indiana Gateway Project

In 2014, Pence supported the Indiana Gateway project, a $71.4 million passenger and freight rail improvement initiative funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, despite having voted against the stimulus package as a congressman.

January 2015: Balanced Budget Amendment Proposed

In January 2015, as governor, Pence proposed a balanced budget amendment to the state's constitution during his State of the State address. The legislation subsequently passed the state Senate.

January 26, 2015: Plans for State-Run News Service "JustIN"

On January 26, 2015, reports surfaced about Mike Pence's plan to launch "JustIN", a state-run, taxpayer-funded news service for Indiana. This service aimed to provide breaking news and pro-administration content to smaller newspapers, with potential implications for Pence's public image.

March 26, 2015: Signing of Indiana Senate Bill 101 (RFRA)

On March 26, 2015, Mike Pence signed Indiana Senate Bill 101, known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), into law. This action was lauded by religious conservatives but drew criticism from those who believed it could enable discrimination against LGBT individuals. Organizations like the NCAA and businesses such as Apple and Salesforce voiced opposition, with Angie's List cancelling a planned expansion due to concerns over the law. Thousands protested the policy, and some Republican figures also criticized it.

March 31, 2015: Defense of RFRA in Wall Street Journal Op-Ed

On March 31, 2015, Mike Pence defended the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, asserting it did not permit discrimination and that he would veto any bill legalizing discrimination. He stated he would not support businesses that refused to serve gay couples.

April 2, 2015: Revision of RFRA Legislation

On April 2, 2015, following backlash against the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), Mike Pence signed legislation revising the law to include protections against potential discrimination. This action followed his previous defense of the initial law and aimed to address concerns raised about its potential impact on LGBT individuals.

May 2015: Law Limiting Lawsuits Against Gun Manufacturers Signed

In May 2015, Pence signed Senate Bill 98 into law, limiting lawsuits against gun and ammunition manufacturers and sellers, and retroactively terminating the City of Gary's lawsuit against gun manufacturers.

May 2015: Legislation Signed to Limit Superintendent's Authority

In May 2015, Pence signed a bill stripping Superintendent Glenda Ritz of much of her authority over standardized testing and other education issues, reconstituting the State Board of Education with Pence appointees.

October 2015: Plan to Pay Off Federal Loan Announced

In October 2015, Pence announced plans to pay off a $250 million federal loan used to cover unemployment insurance payments that had increased during the recession.

December 2015: Statement on Muslim Ban

In December 2015, Mike Pence stated that "calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional".

2015: Medicaid Expansion Agreement

In 2015, Pence and the Obama administration agreed to expand Medicaid in Indiana, creating the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0, which included co-payments linked to healthy behaviors. Participants could lose benefits for non-payment, with contributions around 2% of income.

2015: Charter School Funding Increases Secured

In 2015, Pence secured significant increases in charter-school funding through legislation, although not everything he proposed was achieved.

2015: Signed Repeal of Prevailing Wage Law

In 2015, Pence signed the repeal of an Indiana law that required construction companies working on publicly funded projects to pay a prevailing wage.

2015: Support for Coal Industry and Opposition to EPA

In 2015, Pence voiced strong support for the coal industry, declaring Indiana a "pro-coal state." He also sent a letter to President Obama denouncing the EPA's Clean Power Plan and announced Indiana would refuse to comply, joining a lawsuit to invalidate the plan.

February 2016: Federal Judge Ruling on Syrian Refugee Resettlement

In February 2016, a federal judge ruled that Mike Pence's order to cut off federal funds to a non-profit refugee resettlement agency was unconstitutional. This ruling followed Pence's attempt to prevent Syrian refugees from being resettled in Indiana.

March 2016: Road-Funding Package Signed into Law

In March 2016, Pence signed legislation to fund a $230 million two-year road-funding package.

May 3, 2016: Unopposed in Republican Primary

On May 3, 2016, Mike Pence ran unopposed in the Republican primary for a second term as governor of Indiana.

July 15, 2016: Ending Gubernatorial Campaign

On July 15, 2016, Mike Pence ended his campaign for governor of Indiana after Donald Trump announced him as his vice presidential running mate. Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb was nominated in his place.

October 7, 2016: Response to Trump's Lewd Comments

On October 7, 2016, after the surfacing of lewd comments made by Donald Trump in 2005, Mike Pence stated that he did not condone the remarks but would stand by Trump. He also declined to appear at a joint campaign event with Paul Ryan.

October 10, 2016: Denial of Rumors of Leaving the Ticket

On October 10, 2016, Mike Pence appeared on CNN and stated that rumors of him leaving the ticket were false and that it was the "greatest honor of my life" to be nominated as Trump's running mate.

Loading Video...

October 2016: Vice Presidential Debate Preparations and Performance

During the preparations for the vice presidential debate in October 2016, Scott Walker played the role of Tim Kaine, while Robert Barnett played Pence in Kaine's prep. After the debate, experts concluded that Pence won against Kaine.

November 8, 2016: Election as Vice President

On November 8, 2016, Mike Pence was elected Vice President of the United States as Donald Trump's running mate.

2016: Compromised AOL Email Account

In 2016, Mike Pence's personal AOL email account, which he used for official business as governor, was compromised by hackers. This led to fraudulent emails being sent in an attempt to obtain money from his contacts. The use of a personal email account for state business raised concerns, particularly in light of Pence's criticism of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.

2016: Named as Donald Trump's running mate

In 2016, Pence became Donald Trump’s running mate.

2016: Bill Legalizing Captive Hunting of Farm-Raised Deer Signed

In 2016, Pence signed Senate Bill 109 into law, legalizing the captive hunting of farm-raised deer.

2016: Defiance of Clean Power Plan

In 2016, Pence stated that Indiana would continue to defy the EPA's Clean Power Plan, even if legal challenges failed, and would not develop its own plan to reduce emissions.

2016: Endorsement of Ted Cruz and Donald Trump

In 2016, prior to the Indiana Republican presidential primary, Mike Pence endorsed Ted Cruz. After Trump became the presumptive nominee, Pence endorsed Trump.

2016: Annual Cost of School Voucher Program

In 2016, the annual cost of the school voucher program that was expanded greatly by legislation signed into law by Pence was estimated to be $53 million.

January 20, 2017: Inauguration as Vice President

On January 20, 2017, Mike Pence became the 48th Vice President of the United States, sworn into office by Justice Clarence Thomas.

January 22, 2017: Administering Oath of Office to White House Senior Staff

On January 22, 2017, Mike Pence administered the oath of office to the White House senior staff.

February 5, 2017: Warning to Iran

On February 5, 2017, Vice President Mike Pence warned Iran "not to test the resolve" of the new Trump administration following their ballistic missile tests.

February 7, 2017: Tie-Breaking Vote for Betsy DeVos

On February 7, 2017, Mike Pence, in his role as President of the Senate, cast his first tie-breaking vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education.

March 2017: Release and Withholding of Pence's Emails

In March 2017, after Mike Pence became vice president, the State of Indiana released 29 emails to media outlets from his personal AOL account. However, an undisclosed number of emails were withheld, citing exemptions from public disclosure. This sparked further discussion and debate regarding his use of a personal email account while in office.

May 2017: Pence Forms Great America Committee PAC

In May 2017, Mike Pence filed paperwork to create the Great America Committee, a political action committee (PAC), while still in office as Vice President.

May 21, 2017: Commencement Address at University of Notre Dame

On May 21, 2017, Mike Pence delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame, taking the place of President Trump.

June 30, 2017: Appointment as Chair of the National Space Council

On June 30, 2017, Mike Pence was appointed as chair of the National Space Council after President Trump reestablished the council.

2017: Became Vice President

In 2017, Pence served as vice president under President Donald Trump.

2017: Application to Renew Healthy Indiana Plan

In early 2017, Indiana submitted an application to renew Healthy Indiana, but National Public Radio/Side Effects Public Media claimed the application used misleading and inaccurate information.

2017: State Board of Education to Appoint Chairman

Starting in 2017, the State Board of Education, dominated by Pence appointees, was allowed to appoint a chairman other than the Superintendent of Public Instruction, further shifting control over education matters.

February 1, 2018: Pence to Lead Delegation to 2018 Winter Olympics

On February 1, 2018, it was announced that Mike Pence would lead the presidential delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics alongside his wife.

April 2018: HB 1337 Abortion Bill Ruled Unconstitutional

In April 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled H.B. 1337, an Indiana abortion bill signed into law by Mike Pence in March 2016, as unconstitutional. This bill had banned abortions based on the fetus's race, gender, or abnormality and required fetal remains to be buried or cremated.

2018: Brother's Congressional Win

In 2018, Pence's older brother, Greg, won the political race to represent Indiana's 6th congressional district.

2018: Tie-Breaking Vote to Confirm Jonathan Kobes

In 2018, Vice President Mike Pence cast a tie-breaking vote to confirm Jonathan A. Kobes for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. This was the first tie-breaking vote to confirm a judicial nominee in U.S. history.

June 2019: Suggestion to Replace Pence as Trump's Running Mate

In June 2019, Andrew Stein suggested that Trump could improve his re-election chances by replacing Mike Pence as his running mate with Nikki Haley, but Trump stated that Pence would remain his running mate.

February 26, 2020: Pence Named Leader of White House Coronavirus Task Force

On February 26, 2020, President Trump appointed Mike Pence to lead the White House Coronavirus Task Force to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S.

2020: Lost re-election bid

In 2020, Pence and Trump lost their bid for re-election in the presidential election to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

January 6, 2021: Oversaw certification of Biden and Harris as election winners

Despite pressure from Trump to overturn the election results and the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Pence oversaw the certification of Biden and Harris as the winners of the election.

January 20, 2021: Pence leaves office, succeeded by Kamala Harris

On January 20, 2021, Pence left office as Vice President, succeeded by Kamala Harris. He did not have a permanent residence in Indiana at the time.

February 2021: Pence joins The Heritage Foundation and Young America's Foundation

In February 2021, Pence joined The Heritage Foundation as a distinguished visiting fellow and the Young America's Foundation, planning to launch a new podcast.

March 2021: Pence narrates "Age of Rush" on Fox Nation

In March 2021, Pence narrated a four-part television series on Rush Limbaugh titled "Age of Rush", which debuted on Fox Nation.

Loading Video...

April 2021: Pence signs book deal with Simon & Schuster

In April 2021, Pence signed a deal with Simon & Schuster for two books, including an autobiography.

2021: Corporate Income Tax Reduction

By 2021, the state corporate income tax was set to drop from 6.5 percent to 4.9 percent, making it the second-lowest corporate income tax in the nation, per Senate Bill 1. The law also permitted Indiana counties to eliminate the business personal property tax on new equipment and exempt small businesses with equipment valued at less than $20,000 from paying personal property taxes by 2021.

July 2022: Pence appears in Unprecedented documentary

In July 2022, Pence appeared in the documentary "Unprecedented".

Loading Video...

October 2022: Pence condemns populism and Putin apologists in the Republican Party

In October 2022, Pence publicly condemned "unprincipled populism" and "Putin apologists" within the Republican Party.

June 5, 2023: Pence launches his bid for the presidency

On June 5, 2023, Pence filed paperwork and officially launched his bid for the presidency.

June 2023: Launched 2024 presidential bid

In June 2023, Pence launched a 2024 presidential bid but withdrew by October.

October 28, 2023: Pence withdraws from the presidential race

On October 28, 2023, Pence, facing weak fundraising and poll numbers, withdrew from the presidential race.

March 15, 2024: Pence announces he will not endorse Trump or Biden

On March 15, 2024, Pence announced that he would not endorse Trump, nor would he support Biden in the 2024 presidential election.

August 9, 2024: Pence reiterates he will not endorse Trump or Harris

On August 9, 2024, Pence reiterated that he would not endorse Trump, nor would he support Kamala Harris after Biden withdrew from the race.

September 2024: Pence begins teaching at Grove City College

In September 2024, Pence began teaching political science courses at Grove City College in Pennsylvania as its Distinguished Fellow for Faith and Public Life.