The looming question of how then-Vice President Mike Pence handled the certification of the 2020 election results has become a central focus in the discussions surrounding potential running mates for former President Trump in the 2024 election.
With Trump’s continued claims of election fraud and pressure on Pence to reject the results, candidates for the vice presidential slot have been asked whether they would have acted differently.
Most contenders have indicated that they would have handled the situation differently from Pence, signaling their loyalty to Trump and his narrative of the 2020 election.
Mike Pence (Credits: NBC News)
Representative Elise Stefanik, for example, disagreed with Pence’s actions and declined to commit to accepting the 2024 election results regardless of outcome. Senator JD Vance also stated that he would have acted differently, proposing a scenario where multiple slates of electors were considered.
Others, like Senator Tim Scott and Governor Doug Burgum, have been more evasive in their responses, avoiding direct engagement with questions about Pence’s decision.
Trump advisers have suggested that the former president is unlikely to announce his vice presidential pick until closer to the Republican National Convention in July.
The willingness of potential running mates to criticize Pence’s handling of the election certification has raised concerns among some close to the former vice president.
Donald Trump (Credits: NBC New York)
Marc Short, Pence’s former chief of staff, highlighted the potential implications of such criticism, suggesting that it could pave the way for future challenges to election results.
Pence has defended his actions, emphasizing that he had no constitutional authority to overturn the election outcome and warning against similar actions in the future.
As speculation intensifies over Trump’s potential running mate, the debate over Pence’s role in certifying the 2020 election results continues to shape discussions within the Republican Party.
