Pence's importance will grow

Subject

The vice-presidency under Mike Pence.

Significance

In mid-July, Vice-President Mike Pence toured the Midwest -- Kansas City (Missouri), Chicago (Illinois) and Cedar Rapids (Iowa) -- to raise campaign funds and to steady Republican donors and voters who are being adversely affected by retaliatory trade tariffs applied to the United States since June. Pence could become increasingly significant as the risk of domestic blowback from foreign retaliatory tariffs grows with midterm elections now fewer than 100 days away.

Impacts

• Pence's credentials with conservative-religious voters could prove critical for the Trump-Pence ticket in 2020 in closely contested states.
• It is likely that if Pence wishes to run for president, he will try in 2024.
• If the 2018 midterm elections produce a narrow Republican Senate majority, Pence’s casting vote could be needed more often.
• Pence’s casting vote could give him more influence on future cabinet nominations, absent a larger Republican Senate majority.