Pence Endorses Sarah Huckabee Sanders for Arkansas Governor

Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks at SCHOTT North America in Duryea, Pa., on Oct. 21, 2019. D. Myles Cullen/White House

Former Vice President Mike Pence on March 15 endorsed former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders for the role of the Governor of Arkansas.

“[Sarah] is a Christian, a Conservative, and a Proud Arkansan who will fight for the people of Arkansas, stand with Law Enforcement, promote lower taxes, champion school choice, and more! Sarah will be a great Governor and has my full support!” Pence wrote on Twitter.

Sanders responded with a brief message thanking the former vice president.

“Thank you Vice President [Mike Pence] for your friendship, endorsement, and courageous leadership for our country!” Sanders wrote on Twitter alongside a pair of photos of herself with Pence.

Sanders announced her bid for the governorship in late January and promptly received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

“Sarah Huckabee Sanders is a warrior who will always fight for the people of Arkansas and do what is right, not what is politically correct. Sarah is strong on Borders, tough on Crime, and fully supports the Second Amendment and our great law enforcement officers,” the president said in a statement on Jan. 25. “She loves our Military and Veterans—and her home state of Arkansas. Sarah will be a GREAT Governor, and she has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Trump made a surprise appearance at a Sanders campaign event held on March 12 at his exclusive Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

“Great weekend on the campaign trail featuring a surprise appearance at one of my events by President Trump!” Sanders wrote on Twitter on March 14 alongside a photo of herself with the former president.

Sanders served as the White House press secretary from July 2017 to July 2019. Her tenure was marked by a series of viral exchanges with members of the establishment media, boosting her profile among Trump followers.

Sanders has promised that if elected, she would work to lower the state income tax, reduce the cost and size of government, and create more good jobs.

“I love my state and care about our people. I will champion good schools and good teachers, but also offer more choices to parents of kids in failing schools,” Sanders wrote on Twitter on Jan. 29. “Every child must have the opportunity of a quality education—and no child should ever be trapped in a life of poverty and despair.

“Our goal shouldn’t be to take assistance away from the working poor but to offer the right education and job training opportunities to incentivize work and unleash hope for a better future.”

Sanders, 38, the daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, announced her 2022 bid for Arkansas governor on Jan. 25. She raised $1 million in the first four days of her candidacy, including donations from all 75 counties in Arkansas, according to her campaign.