On Tuesday, Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.), the older brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, announced that he will not be running for re-election after his current term.
Greg Pence, 67, who has represented Indiana's 6th District since 2018, joins a growing list of GOP lawmakers opting to retire from the House in the upcoming year, as per to New York Post.
Rep. Greg Pence Announces Retirement Amid GOP Exodus
WASHINGTON, DC JANUARY 8: Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN), brother of Vice President Mike Pence, arrives for a briefing with members of the U.S. House of Representatives about the situation with Iran, at the U.S. Capitol on January 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. Members of the House and the Senate are expected to be briefed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, CIA Director Gina Haspel and Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire. In response to the U.S. killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Iranian forces launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against two military bases in Iraq early Wednesday local time.
The announcement was made through a statement shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and Pence did not offer any specific explanations for his decision to withdraw from the political sphere. During his announcement, Pence took a moment to reflect on his original motivation for joining Congress in 2017. He stated his dedication to public service, drawing on his experience as a former Marine Officer.
"For the remainder of my term this year, our team will continue to focus on delivering outstanding constituent services. To the voters in Indiana's 6th District - it is a privilege and honor to represent you in our Nation's capital," Pence stated.
Greg Pence succeeded his famous sibling, Mike Pence, who held the congressional seat for 12 years before serving as Indiana's governor. The 6th District encompasses parts of central, eastern, and south-central Indiana.
Pence's departure adds to a significant exodus of House members seeking retirement or other offices leading up to the 2024 election. The previous day, Republican US Rep. Larry Bucshon also announced his retirement from Congress after 14 years, not seeking an eighth term to represent southern and western Indiana's 8th District, according to ABC News.
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Four Indiana Seats Open in Upcoming Elections
These two announcements mean that four out of Indiana's nine congressional districts will be open for the November general election. In January 2023, Republican US Rep. Jim Banks declared he would not seek re-election to northeastern Indiana's 3rd District, aiming for Indiana's US Senate seat. Subsequently, Republican US Rep. Victoria Spartz also revealed her decision not to pursue a third term in central Indiana's 5th District.
Rep. Pence's district, categorized as "solid Republican" with a rating of R+19 by the Cook Political Report, is likely to remain in GOP hands in 2024.
Before starting his political career, Pence had a distinguished background in the US Marine Corps and gained valuable experience in the energy distribution industry. He has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, along with its subcommittees on energy and consumer protection and commerce.
The congressman has faced political turbulence in recent years due to his involvement with his brother's tensions with former President Trump. Despite voting to object to the 2020 electoral votes in Pennsylvania on Jan. 6, 2021, Pence stood by his brother in 2022 amid criticism from Trump. Despite the tensions, Trump eventually endorsed Greg Pence's 2022 re-election bid, praising his efforts to address economic issues and restore the country's global standing.
Pence's retirement underscores the ongoing trend of retirements from both political parties, further shaping the landscape of the upcoming election cycle, The Hill reported.
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