Pence (63) will be a direct competitor to his boss with Republicans at the time, who announced late last year that he would seek re-election. The two were staunch allies during their tenures, but Pence incurred Trump’s wrath by confirming Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. Trump has not resigned himself to defeating him. Pence has gradually moved away from the defeated former president.
Trump, however, remains hugely popular with Republicans. More than half of supporters want the former president to be their candidate, with a small percentage in favor of Pence, polls show.