Former Vice President Mike Pence has stated that anyone "serious" about running in the 2024 GOP presidential primary needs to enter the race by June. He made these comments during an interview with CBS News when he was asked about his own timeline for launching a presidential bid.
Pence, who served as vice president under Donald Trump from 2017-2021, explained that he would make a final decision on whether or not to run for president "well before late June." Although still considering entering the Republican primaries himself, Pence has declined to back his ex-boss's potential 2024 bid. Instead, he believes that the Republican primary electorate will have "better choices" among candidates.
"I think it's important for any serious contender in our party to step up sooner rather than later," said Pence during the interview. His statement could be seen as both advice and a challenge for other Republicans pondering their political ambitions.
The former vice president's refusal to endorse Trump may indicate growing tensions between them since leaving office. The two have had disagreements related to issues surrounding election integrity and how they handled certain events leading up to January 6th Capitol riots.
Despite this apparent rift, many political analysts believe there is room in the Republican Party for both men – along with other potential contenders – as they each appeal to different factions within conservative politics.
As GOP hopefuls prepare themselves mentally and financially ahead of announcing their candidacy, there are several notable names rumored among possible contenders besides Trump and Pence. These include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
One thing is clear: if any of these politicians wish seriously engage in contention for their party's nomination come next year’s primaries season they should heed Mike Pence's advice and make their announcements before June 2024. This will allow enough time for crucial fundraising, gaining support from party leaders, building strong campaign teams, and strategizing on important policy issues that resonate with Republican voters.
As the months go by and potential candidates weigh their options, the shape of the 2024 GOP primary race will become more apparent. As Pence said during his interview: "I think it's going to be a very competitive field."