A “statement of candidacy” was filed with the Federal Election Commission on behalf of former Vice President Mike Pence on Monday — but his spokesman says that it is “not real” and possibly a prank.
Though the filing is not real, Pence has not ruled out running against former President Donald Trump in 2024.
“Former Vice President Mike Pence did not file to run for President today,” Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley tweeted as the filing went viral.
Former Vice President Mike Pence did not file to run for President today. https://t.co/DV7PjhTD6X
— Devin O’Malley (@devin_omalley) December 26, 2022
Republican strategist Greg Price responded to O’Malley’s tweet asking if someone was pranking Pence’s office — to which the spokesman replied, “I think someone pranked you.”
I think someone pranked you
— Devin O’Malley (@devin_omalley) December 26, 2022
O’Malley also reminded people that if Pence does announce a campaign, he has said that it will be in 2023.
I didn’t have it on my Bingo card for ANY of the days between Christmas and New Year considering Pence has been saying that if there was an announcement to be made, it would made in 2023!
— Devin O’Malley (@devin_omalley) December 27, 2022
The statement of candidacy used “Mike,” the former VP’s nickname, instead of his actual name, “Michael.” He has used his formal first name in previous filings.
In November, Pence said that he is giving “prayerful consideration” to a run for the White House.
“We’re giving it consideration in our house. Prayerful consideration,” Pence told David Muir on ABC’s “World News Tonight.”
Asked if Trump should be president again, Pence demurred and said that there will likely be better options.
“That’s up to the American people. But I think we’ll have better choices in the future,” Pence said, adding, “for me and my family, we’ll be reflecting about what our role is in that.”
When asked about the possibility in December, Pence once again refused to rule it out.
“The fact that people are now getting to know me and my family, our faith, our conservative convictions better, has been a great source of encouragement as we think about the way forward and what our calling might be in the future,” Pence told Fox News Digital on December 13.
As of December 27, Trump is the only Republican who has declared his candidacy.
