Former Vice President Mike Pence has officially dropped out of the presidential race, making him the first prominent Republican candidate to do so. Pence made the announcement during a speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting in Las Vegas on Saturday. In his statement, he cited the uphill battle he faced and expressed no regrets about his decision.
Pence’s campaign had faced challenges in fundraising and struggled to gain momentum in the polls, where former President Donald Trump has consistently held a substantial lead over other GOP contenders. As of October 30, Trump enjoys the support of 56.9 percent of likely Republican primary voters, followed distantly by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with 14.1 percent.
It’s worth noting that Pence, known for his evangelical Christian background and prior roles as the governor of Indiana and a representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, has a track record of supporting socially conservative policies, particularly those detrimental to LGBTQ rights. During recent Republican primary debates on September 27, Pence, along with DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, advocated for policies that target transgender youth and their families, particularly in the realms of public schools and healthcare. Furthermore, Trump, who was absent from these debates, has pledged to utilize federal power against the transgender community if reelected.
Pence’s departure from the race leaves Trump in a dominant position within the Republican field, with potential implications for the future of LGBTQ rights in the party’s agenda.