Republican Rep. Mike Pence announces candidacy for Indiana Governor

US Rep. Mike Pence announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for Governor of Indiana Thursday morning in a conference call when he said, “I’m in this race.”

Pence said that Indiana was doing well after two terms under Gov. Mitch Daniels — who is considering his own run for President — but that he would like to continue Gov. Daniels’ work.

“We must have principled leadership at every level to make the right choices. We need to live within our means, and embrace policies that will create good jobs, great schools, safe streets and strong families,” Pence said in a video posted on his website.

Rep. Pence has represented Indiana’s 6th Congressional District — and previously in the 2nd District — since 2001. When he announced that he would not seek the Republican nomination for President, some assumed that he would be making a run for governor instead.

Pence’s aides filed the necessary paperwork with the Indiana Secretary of State’s office, and will have a formal campaign kickoff Saturday June 11 in Columbus.

The Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, strongly welcomed Pence’s entrance into the race. In a released statement Perry called Pence a “top-tier candidate.”

Perry also said this announcement was a blow to the Democrats’ hopes of gaining the governor position again.

One minute before Rep. Pence had even sent out an e-mail announcing his intention to run, the Indiana Democratic Party released their own statement.

“It’s fair to say there aren’t many Republicans in Washington who are prouder partisans than Congressman Mike Pence,...that’s the kind of attitude that makes it impossible to get things done,” the statement read.

— Zach Ammerman