What's next for Mike Pence?
What's next for Mike Pence?
My profile and two exclusive interviews with the former vice president as he nears closer to a 2024 bid—and whether it would be for Mike Braun's seat in the Senate or president.
WHAT WILL MIKE PENCE DO NEXT YEAR? Some close allies of the former vice president hope Mike Pence doesn’t run in 2024.
At least one top adviser and close friend in recent days urged him to consider a run for Senate in Indiana as incumbent Mike Braun eyes the governor’s office — a respectable offramp from his loftier ambitions. “It’s worthy of consideration,” the Pence confidant told me. “I could see him being majority leader within a short period of time.” (Two Pence aides denied that he had any interest in a Senate bid; but the chatter had grown so loud in the Indiana delegation that Rep. Jim Banks, who is eyeing his own Senate run, felt compelled to check with the former vice president about his intentions, according to someone close to Pence. A Banks spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.)
If Pence does run for president, Pence’s allies say his best shot depends on DeSantis faltering, and Pence, by virtue of his experience and his patience, outlasting him in some kind of tortoise and hare scenario. (When it comes to Trump, they believe he and DeSantis could become preoccupied with one another, allowing Pence to run up the middle.)
Read that scoop and more in my wide-ranging profile of Pence in POLITICO this morning, featuring two interviews with Pence himself and more than 30 current and former advisers, allies and opponents.
Good Monday morning, and welcome back to IMPORTANTVILLE.
HOOSIERS IN THE NEWS
Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer is looking to move up — by running for the number two spot at the Republican National Committee, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Republican Rep. Jim Banks endorses the political commentator Abdul-Hakim Shabazz for Indianapolis mayor as Shabazz explores a run.
Banks also told Axios his shadow Jan. 6 committee will “release their own report that will ‘focus on security failures,’ arguing the select committee has ‘never dealt with the serious issues.’”
#INGOV 2024: Republicans
WHAT BUSINESSMAN ERIC DODEN IS TELLING ME: “We’re the candidate of big bold ideas. I think we're excited about really improving and revitalizing communities that I think have sort of been left out of the equation from economic development perspective—towns I grew up in like Butler and Auburn, in Angola, and in places like that, so we're just really excited about bringing an approach that includes all 6.7 million people into an exciting future for their communities, and to bring them vibrancy….We've raised $3 million so far and have commitments for several million more. I think that somewhere between $7-10 million is what I've been told by people that understand how to build name ID and what it takes to make sure that people get your message and understand what you're about. And so we think we're gonna have all the resources we need to compete at the highest levels here.
WHAT LT. GOV. SUZANNE CROUCH IS TELLING ME: (On Mike Braun’s internal poll showing he is up big): “The only poll that matters is Election Day.”
#INGOV 2024: Democrats
WHAT HAMMOND MAYOR THOMAS MCDERMOTT IS TELLING ME: He is closely considering a 2024 gubernatorial bid, and believes it will be easier to raise money for than his Senate bid.
WHAT INDIANA SECRETARY OF STATE CANDIDATE DESTINY WELLS IS TELLING ME: “I’m completely undecided on 2024. Governor’s race is looking occupied. Senate is enticing but it’s a whole different ballgame. Fundraising will be hard, especially with the [Democratic National Committee] not investing resources here.”
That’s all for today. Thanks for reading and subscribing.
