Gov. Mike Pence has accepted Donald Trump's offer to be his running mate.
Trump tweeted out Friday morning to make the announcement official, just before what was originally scheduled to be the formal announcement in New York at 11 a.m., an announcement that Trump postponed due to the France terror attacks.
I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2016
Click here to follow along with our #PenceWatch live blog.
It had all but been confirmed with numerous reports following others throughout Thursday saying Pence had been selected as Trump's running mate, the most concrete of which came from ABC News around 5 p.m., saying Trump had called Pence and offered him the job, which Indiana's governor accepted.
Just In: @rollcall cites source saying Trump has picked @GovPenceIN as running mate #PenceWatch @rtv6 #veepstakes https://t.co/4YFFzqIyAV
— #IndyThisWeek (@IndyThisWeek) July 14, 2016
Roll Call cited an unnamed source in its initial report.
Trump's campaign chairman indicates a VP decision has NOT been made yet #PenceWatch @rtv6 https://t.co/qJK9wcO00Y
— #IndyThisWeek (@IndyThisWeek) July 14, 2016
Pence just walked Lt. Gov Holcomb to door of Governor's residence, shook his hand before Holcomb left @IndyThisWeek pic.twitter.com/5xlwWbIuSa
— Katie Heinz (@katieheinz6) July 14, 2016
Indiana Auditor Suzanne Crouch tweeted later in the day that Pence was selected as Trump's VP.
Pence confirmed as Trump's VP. "You can take that to the bank!" #redglasses @AttyAbdul @ericbradner @nwi_DanCarden @MaureenHayden
— Suzanne Crouch (@Suzanne_Crouch) July 14, 2016
Click below to see a timeline of the major moments from Pence's time as Indiana's governor:
POLL | Would Pence VP choice affect your vote?
Trump's pick makes Pence the first Hoosier on a major party's presidential ticket since Dan Quayle served as vice president under President George H. W. Bush.
Pence was not necessarily the obvious pick for Trump. The pair disagrees on a number of significant issues, including free trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Trump's treatment of Hoosier-born U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel and the presumptive Republican nominee's proposed ban on Muslim immigrants.
READ MORE | On key issues, Trump & Pence often disagree
At least 10 prominent Indiana Republicans – ranging from House Speaker Brian Bosma to Congresswoman Susan Brooks – have expressed interest in running for governor if Pence were to drop out of the race. The decision will ultimately fall to the Republican Party's Central Committee, who will have 30 days to decide who will face off against Democrat John Gregg and Libertarian Rex Bell in November.
READ | If Pence isn't in governor's race, who will be? | Report: Mitch Daniels will not run for governor
Indiana Democrats had their own 11th-hour ballot switch this week as well, when Baron Hill announced he would be dropping out of the race for U.S. Senate, paving the way for former senator and governor Evan Bayh to step into the race against Republican Rep. Todd Young.
READ MORE | Evan Bayh officially running for U.S. Senate
Follow the latest updates to Trump's VP choice in our #PenceWatch blog here.
