Challenges Faced by Mike Pence: Obstacles and Turning Points
Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Mike Pence. A timeline of obstacles and growth.
Michael Richard Pence is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 48th Vice President of the United States from 2017 to 2021, under President Donald Trump. Prior to his role as Vice President, Pence served as the 50th Governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017. Before becoming governor, he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Indiana from 2001 to 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party.
1988: Lost First House Bid
In 1988, Mike Pence lost his first bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
1988: Ran for Congress Against Philip Sharp
In 1988, Mike Pence ran for Congress against Democratic incumbent Philip Sharp but lost.
1990: Lost Second House Bid
In 1990, Mike Pence lost his second bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
1990: Ran for Congress Again
In 1990, Mike Pence ran against Philip Sharp again for Congress, but was unsuccessful.
1997: EPA Identifies Health Concern
In 1997, the EPA first identified the site of several former lead smelting plants in East Chicago as a health concern.
November 2006: Candidacy for Republican Party Leader
In November 2006, Mike Pence announced his candidacy for leader of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives but lost to John Boehner.
2009: East Chicago Superfund Site
In 2009, parts of East Chicago were discovered to have toxic lead and arsenic contamination and were designated a Superfund site. Governor Pence declined to declare the Superfund site a state emergency.
2011: Planned Parenthood Defunding
In 2011, the Republican-controlled legislature and Pence defunded Planned Parenthood, which operated five rural clinics in Indiana that tested for HIV and offered prevention, intervention, and counseling to improve public health outcomes.
June 12, 2013: Veto Override on Local Tax Bill
On June 12, 2013, the Indiana Legislature overrode Governor Pence's veto of a bill to retroactively authorize a local tax. The bill, addressing the Jackson-Pulaski tax fix, allowed the county to retain money from a 15-year-old county income tax that had not been properly reduced, instead of returning it to taxpayers.
2013: Scott County Loses HIV Testing Center
Scott County has been without an HIV testing center since 2013, after Pence defunded Planned Parenthood. The PP clinic in Scott County performed no abortions.
December 2014: HIV Outbreak in Southern Indiana
Beginning in December 2014, there was an HIV outbreak in Southern Indiana. Pence's actions regarding Planned Parenthood and needle exchange programs came under scrutiny during this time.
2014: Indiana's Economy Among Slowest-Growing in the U.S.
In 2014, Indiana's economy was among the slowest-growing in the United States, with 0.4 percent GDP growth.
March 2015: Approval of Needle Exchanges
In March 2015, well after the HIV outbreak began, Pence finally allowed at least five counties to open needle exchanges, but did not move to lift the state ban on funding for needle exchanges.
May 2015: Bill Stripping Authority from Glenda Ritz
In May 2015, Pence signed a bill stripping Glenda Ritz of much of her authority over standardized testing and other education issues, reconstituting the State Board of Education dominated by Pence appointees.
2015: Opposition to EPA's Clean Power Plan
In 2015, Pence sent a letter to President Obama denouncing the EPA's Clean Power Plan and stating that Indiana would refuse to comply with the plan.
February 2016: Federal Judge Ruled Against Pence's Order to Cut off Federal Funds
In February 2016, a federal judge ruled that Mike Pence's order to cut off federal funds for a local non-profit refugee resettlement agency was unconstitutional; Pence unsuccessfully appealed.
2016: Email Account Compromised
In 2016, Mike Pence's personal AOL email account, which he used for official business as governor, was hacked, and used to send fraudulent emails.
2016: Defiance of EPA Rule
In 2016, Pence said that even if legal challenges failed, Indiana would continue to defy the EPA rule and would not come up with its own plan to reduce emissions.
November 7, 2020: Biden and Harris Declared Winners of the Election.
On November 7, 2020, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were declared the winners of the election by major news networks, though Trump refused to concede and made unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.
December 2020: Lawsuit Filed Against Pence
In December 2020, Republican congressman Louie Gohmert and 11 Arizona Republicans filed a federal lawsuit against Pence, seeking to grant him the power to reject state-certified presidential electors in favor of "competing slates of electors" in an attempt to overturn Biden's victory. The lawsuit was quickly dismissed due to lack of standing.
January 6, 2021: Oversaw Certification of 2020 Election Results
On January 6, 2021, despite pressure from President Trump, Mike Pence oversaw the certification of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the winners of the 2020 presidential election.
January 2021: Trump Pressures Pence to Overturn Election
In January 2021, Trump pressured Pence to overturn the election results during the January 6th congressional joint session. Pence refused, stating the Constitution did not grant him that power. Trump insisted Pence could act, creating a major point of contention. Also in January 2021, Trump reportedly called Pence urging him to act as a patriot.
January 2023: Classified Documents Found at Pence's Home
In January 2023, after classified documents were found at President Joe Biden's home, Pence asked his lawyer to search his home and the attorney found around a dozen documents marked as classified in Pence's Indiana home and turned over the documents to the FBI.
February 9, 2023: Pence Subpoenaed by Special Counsel
On February 9, 2023, Pence was subpoenaed by special counsel Jack Smith regarding the January 6th Capitol attack, after months of negotiation.
October 28, 2023: Pence Withdraws from Presidential Race
On October 28, 2023, Pence, due to weak fundraising and poll numbers, withdrew from the presidential race.
2023: Pence Criticizes Trump Regarding January 6th Events
In 2023, Pence criticized former President Donald Trump, especially regarding the events that took place on January 6, 2021. Pence said that Trump was wrong to suggest that Pence had a right to overturn the election results, adding that Trump's words not only endangered him, but his family and everyone at the Capitol.
2024: Withdrew 2024 Presidential Campaign
By the end of October 2023, Mike Pence withdrew from his bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
2024: Pence Presidential Campaign Outlook
In 2024, there was a widespread view among both Republican leaders and grassroots Republicans that "Pence is dead in the early waters of 2024."
