Pence files to run for president.

Vice President Mike Pence has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the 2024 GOP presidential primary, setting up a showdown with former President Donald Trump.

Despite the growing field of candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Pence has long been expected to enter the race. He will formally announce his candidacy on May 7.

“President Trump was wrong,” Pence said of the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. “I had no right to overturn the election. And [Trump’s] reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”

Despite serving as Trump’s vice president, Pence has distanced himself from the former president and positioned himself as an anti-populist seeking a return to the pre-Trump Republican Party. He has called on conservatives to reject the “siren song of populism.”

Competing for the Nomination

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
• Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
• Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley

Pence’s entry into the race adds another layer of intrigue to the already crowded field of candidates. It remains to be seen how his clash with Trump will play out, but one thing is for sure: the 2024 GOP primary is shaping up to be a battle for the soul of the Republican Party.