(UnitedVoice.com) – Former Vice President Mike Pence ran for the 2024 Republican nomination for president. It was apparent from the start that the GOP base did not want him, and he dropped out late last year. Another Pence has decided he won’t run for office either.
On January 9, Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) announced he isn’t running for re-election. In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the former Marine said he decided to run for Congress because he wanted to serve the country again. But now, after three times in office, he said he has decided he won’t be running again. He promised to serve until the end of his term.
— Rep. Greg Pence (@RepGregPence) January 9, 2024
There has been a Pence serving the state of Indiana in one way or another since 2001. Mike Pence represented the state in Congress from 2001 to 2013. Then, he served one term as governor and a term as vice president of the US. Greg Pence has served the state since 2018.
The day before Rep. Pence’s announcement, Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) also announced he would not run for re-election. He has served seven terms in Congress, representing the state for the last 14 years.
The decision by Bucshon and Pence means that four of the state’s nine congressional seats will be without an incumbent in November. That makes it easier for someone in the opposing party to take the seat. The men are also two of about three dozen House lawmakers retiring or moving on to other offices in the next election. Twenty-two Democrats and 17 Republicans have announced they won’t be running for re-election. Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) retired last month, leaving his seat open, too.
The open seats mean the 2024 election could be even more competitive than normal. And strong top-of-the-ticket presidential candidates could mean the difference between a majority or minority in the House for the parties.
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