Here’s a few things to know about Gov. Pence.
1. Pence, 57, is governor of Indiana and has said he was going to seek re-election this year.
2. He served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing an eastern Indiana district that included Richmond, just west of the Dayton region.
3. Pence is a Christian with strong support from evangelicals in his state, his party and beyond.
4. He served as chairman of the Republican Study Committee and was later elected chairman of the House Republican Conference. He was also assigned to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
5. He enjoys strong support from colleagues in Congress where he seems to have been liked by Republicans and Democrats.
6. He was an early Tea Party advocate, voting against No Child Left Behind and TARP.
7. According to the Indianapolis Star, “In addition to fighting abortion, he opposes embryonic stem cell research, thinks marriage should be between one man and one woman and supported “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the now dissolved government policy of banning openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military.”
8. Pence and his wife, Karen, have a son and two daughters. Karen is a former school teacher.
9. He endorsed Ted Cruz for president in the Indiana primary.
10. Pence is well connected to Republican national fundraising networks run by Charles and David Koch.
11. He once considered launching a state-run news agency, but abandoned the idea after the Indianapolis Star uncovered the plan.
12. On March 26, 2015, Pence signed the Indiana "religious objections" bill into law that some saw as a pass to discriminate against LGBT people. After waves of pressure over the bill, Pence signed legislation revising the law ("fixing it," he said) to prevent discrimination against homosexuals.
13. He considered running for president in the 2016 cycle.
Sources: The Indianapolis Star; The Associated Press; The Washington Post
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