Mike Pence gears up with one eye on 2024

Pence is expected to continue his political journey in the new year, with a trip to New Hampshire among the potential stops. An evangelical Christian, Pence is also expected to embark on a mega-church tour.

So far, the Pence operation has around two dozen staff and consultants, a group that includes his former chief of staff, Marc Short, and former press secretary, Devin O’Malley, and a veteran GOP strategist, Chip Saltsman. All three are likely to play a role in a 2024 bid.

Since leaving office, Pence has relied on two political vehicles, a political action committee dubbed Great America PAC and Advancing American Freedom, a 501c4 political nonprofit. Earlier this fall, Advancing American Freedom hosted a retreat in Utah attended by major donors, including North Carolina businessman Art Pope.

Trump, who announced his 2024 comeback bid last week on the same day the former vice president released his memoir, looms over any moves Pence makes.

Pence has repeatedly expressed his willingness to break with Trump, going so far as to say Republicans will have « better choices » than Trump in 2024. And during his RJC appearance last week, Pence said Republicans were to be a « party that keeps our oath to the constitution even when political expediency may suggest we do otherwise » – an implied reference to Pence’s decision to fend off pressure from Trump not to certify the results of the 2020 elections.