Former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are planning to join the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination next week.
Chris Christie, who previously advised Trump’s campaign in 2016 but later became a vocal critic of the former president, will officially announce his 2024 campaign on June 6. Meanwhile, Mike Pence, who faced backlash from Trump for not supporting his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, is set to enter the race against his former boss on June 7. Additionally, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is also planning to join the race on the same day as Pence.
The growing number of Republican candidates is causing concern among Trump opponents within the Republican Party. They worry that a large field of challengers will divide the anti-Trump vote and ultimately give the nomination to the former president, who still enjoys significant support from a portion of the Republican base.
In the current Republican field, which consists of more than 10 declared or nearly-declared candidates, Trump holds a significant lead in the polls. His closest competitor is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who recently entered the race.
As of now, Mike Pence’s polling average in the Republican field is less than 4%, compared to Trump’s 53%, according to an average of polls by RealClearPolitics. Christie’s polling numbers have been negligible so far.
Pence is planning to launch his campaign in Iowa with a video and a speech. He is known for his strong conservative values and continued support for many of Trump’s policies, despite distancing himself from the former president’s rhetoric and behavior since the 2020 election. Pence is also aiming to appeal directly to the evangelical Christian community.
The success of Pence’s campaign will depend on his ability to attract supporters of Trump’s policies who may be turned off by the former president’s divisive approach, in order to build a viable coalition.
Chris Christie, on the other hand, enters the race as an underdog, having previously run for president in 2016 without gaining much traction. In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from May 9 to 15, only 1% of Republicans chose Christie as their preferred nominee for 2024. He will officially launch his campaign at a town hall event in New Hampshire, an early nominating state.
Other Republicans who have already entered the race include U.S. Senator Tim Scott and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) is also planning to launch a presidential bid on June 7.
