SHANNON LONGWORTH: YOU KNOW HIM AS THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT TO OUR ONE-TERM POLARIZING PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP.

MIKE PENCE: “HE’S A MAN KNOWN FOR A LARGE PERSONALITY, A COLORFUL STYLE, AND LOTS OF CHARISMA, SO I GUESS HE WAS JUST LOOKING FOR SOME BALANCE ON THE TICKET.”

LONGWORTH: THOUGH HE LAID LOW DURING THE 2016 ELECTION AND HIS TIME IN THE WHITE HOUSE, HE’S EMERGED AS A HERO IN CONGRESSIONAL NARRATIVES OF JANUARY 6, 2021.

THIS MAKES MIKE PENCE JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.

IN THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE HEARINGS REGARDING JANUARY 6TH, BOTH SOME DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAILED HIS REFUSAL TO LEAVE THE CAPITOL THAT DAY.

INSTEAD, HE WAITED OUT THE ATTACK TO CERTIFY THE ELECTION.

AND CLEARLY, TRUMP DIDN’T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

DONALD TRUMP: “ALL VICE PRESIDENT PENCE HAS TO DO IS SEND IT BACK TO THE STATES TO RE-CERTIFY, AND WE BECOME PRESIDENT AND YOU ARE THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE.”

BY REFUSING TO SAY THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN BY DEMOCRATS, PENCE BROKE AWAY FROM HIS FORMER RUNNING MATE.

TRUMP: “HE HAD A CHANCE TO BE, FRANKLY, HISTORIC. BUT JUST LIKE BILL BARR AND THE REST OF THESE WEAK PEOPLE, MIKE–AND I SAY IT SADLY BECAUSE I LIKE HIM–BUT MIKE DID NOT HAVE THE COURAGE TO ACT.”

MIKE PENCE: “AND I HEARD THIS WEEK THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID I HAD THE RIGHT TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS WRONG. I HAD NO RIGHT TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION. THE PRESIDENCY BELONGS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ALONE.”

LONGWORTH: THE SELF-PROCLAIMED CHRISTIAN, CONSERVATIVE, AND REPUBLICAN–IN THAT ORDER–IS POSITIONED PRECARIOUSLY WITHOUT THE TRUMP-SUPPORTING SIDE OF THE GOP.

IT’S A PARTY HE’S ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF AS THE GOVERNOR OF INDIANA AND A U-S REPRESENTATIVE.

HIS SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GUN RIGHTS, ALONG WITH HIS DENIAL OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND LGBTQ RIGHTS…ALIGNS HIM WELL WITH REPUBLICAN VALUES.

THE QUESTION IS, WILL THIS VERY PUBLIC PARTING HELP OR HURT HIS PREVIOUSLY PRUDENT CAREER.

ALL THIS MAKES MIKE PENCE JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW.