Former VP Mike Pence Set to Launch Presidential Campaign Next Week

Former US vice president Mike Pence is expected to launch his presidential bid in the 2024 election in Des Moines, Iowa, next week.

Sources suggest Pence would launch his campaign to become the Republican party's White House bid in a speech and campaign video on June 7, his 64th birthday, saying he would meet what he views as a deadline for potential candidates.

Mike Pence Presidential Bid

He previously told CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa in April that an increasing number of people were telling him to promote his brand of "traditional conservatism" in the expanding field of presidential contenders from both the GOP and the Democrats.

According to Republican sources, he was expected to convince evangelical Christian voters, given his religious affiliation with them.

Pence would be the newest contender in the long list of GOP presidential candidates after his former running mate Donald Trump, governors Ron DeSantis (Florida) and Doug Burgum (North Dakota), former governors Nikki Haley (South Carolina), Asa Hutchinson (Arkansas), and Chris Christie (New Jersey), and senator Tim Scott, among others.

Pence Slams Dodgers for Reinviting LGBT+ Group to Pride Night

Meanwhile, Pence called the decision made by the Los Angeles Dodgers to reinvite the LGBT+ group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in this year's Pride Night celebration "deeply offensive."

In a tweet Tuesday, the former vice president accused the gay group of "blatantly [mocking] Catholicism" given the Catholic origins of the Dodgers.

"[Major League Baseball] should not be apologizing to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence," Pence said, "they should be apologizing to Catholics across America."

His remarks came as the Dodgers recently reinvited the group for their Pride Night event after previously rescinding its invitation.

However, Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw expressed disappointment with his team's decision to reinvite the drag group. Because of the decision, he asked his team's upper management to fast-track the announcement of the return of the Dodgers Christian Faith and Family Day this season.

"[The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence] is simply a group that was making fun of a religion," he said, "that I don't agree with."