Gregory Joseph Pence (born November 14, 1956) is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Indiana's 6th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he is the older brother of United States Vice President Mike Pence, who represented the district from 2003 to 2013.
Greg Pence | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 6th district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Luke Messer |
Personal details | |
Born | Gregory Joseph Pence November 14, 1956 Columbus, Indiana, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Denise Pence |
Children | 4 |
Relatives | Mike Pence (brother) Karen Pence (sister-in-law) Charlotte Pence Bond (niece) |
Education | Loyola University Chicago (BA, MBA) |
Website | House website |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1979–1984 |
Rank | First Lieutenant |
Early life
Born in Columbus, Indiana on November 14, 1956,[1] Pence is the oldest of six children born to his parents, Ann Jane "Nancy" (née Cawley) and Edward Joseph Pence Jr., who ran a group of gas stations.[2][3] He was raised in the Catholic faith. According to his mother, Pence and his three brothers rode wagons in a 1964 campaign parade for Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.[4]
Pence earned a B.A. in theology and philosophy and a Master of Business Administration in 1983 from Loyola University Chicago.[5][6] He earned a commission in the Marines in 1979 after receiving his undergraduate degree and served for five and a half years, rising to the rank of first lieutenant.[7][6] In 1983, his battalion was stationed in Beirut, Lebanon and shipped out shortly before the bombings.[8]
Business career
Pence owns and operates antique malls in southern Indiana.
After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Pence joined Kiel Brothers Oil Company in 1988, after his father died, and served as its president from 1998 to 2004. After his departure, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2004.[7] Through the company, he had also run a chain of gas stations and convenience stores.[9][10]
According to some reports, the cleanup from the defunct business sites has cost Indiana at least $21 million.[11] Pence also worked for Marathon Oil and Unocal. In 1999, he was elected to the board of directors of Home Federal Bancorp and its subsidiary Home Federal Savings Bank.[6][12]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2018 general election
Pence was the finance chairman in U.S. House representative Luke Messer's 2018 campaign for the U.S. Senate.[10] In October 2017, Pence launched his own campaign for the position Messer was leaving.[13] On May 8, 2018, Pence won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House seat his brother Mike had held for twelve years. With Pence raising and spending about a million dollars as of mid-April and his closest Republican challenger loaning himself about three quarters of that amount, it made the "race the most expensive in the state." Pence faced Democrat Jeannine Lake in the November general election and won with over a 30 percent margin.[9]
Tenure
Committee assignments[14]
Caucus memberships
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Greg Pence | 47,955 | 65.3 | |
Republican | Jonathan Lamb | 17,523 | 23.9 | |
Republican | Mike Campbell | 3,229 | 4.4 | |
Republican | Stephen MacKenzie | 2,500 | 3.4 | |
Republican | Jeff Smith | 2,258 | 3.1 | |
Total votes | 73,465 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Greg Pence | 154,260 | 63.8 | |
Democratic | Jeannine Lee Lake | 79,430 | 32.9 | |
Libertarian | Tom Ferkinhoff | 8,030 | 3.3 | |
Independent | John Miller (write-in) | 5 | 0.0 | |
Independent | Heather Leigh Meloy (write-in) | 1 | 0.0 | |
Total votes | 241,726 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
Personal life
Pence and his wife, Denise, own two antique malls.[12] They have four children – Nicole, Lauren, Emily, and John – and eight grandchildren.[15] Pence is a practicing Catholic and attends St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Columbus.[16]
Denise was an Indiana delegate at the 2016 Republican National Convention and cast her vote for Donald Trump and Mike Pence to be the party's nominees.[2] Pence and his family were in attendance at the Inauguration of Donald Trump, seated several rows behind the incoming president. Their oldest daughter, Nicole, was a TV anchor in Indianapolis[17] and their son, John, was working for the Trump 2020 Campaign as a senior advisor as of February 2020.[18]
References
- ^ "Where they stand Q&A: Greg Pence". Daily Reporter. April 13, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
- ^ a b Pitrelli, Adrianna (October 6, 2017). "VP's sister-in-law on life since the election". WTHR. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ "Mike Pence photo gallery". The Republic. January 20, 2017. slides 8, 12, 32. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ Webber, Mark (November 1, 2016). "Pence family hosts Edinburgh rally". The Republic. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ "About Greg". Greg Pence for Congress. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Home Federal Bancorp Elects New Director". Business Wire. December 21, 1999. Retrieved May 9, 2018 – via The Free Library.
- ^ a b Tackett, Michael (April 22, 2018). "As Another Pence Runs for Congress, His Business Record Raises Questions". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- ^ Thomas, Ken (October 23, 2017). "Pence honors memory of Marines killed in 1983 Beirut bombing". The Times of Israel. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ a b Chamberlain, Samuel (May 8, 2018). "Greg Pence wins GOP nomination for House seat once held by brother Mike Pence". Fox News. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ a b Pathé, Simone (August 16, 2017). "Could There Soon Be Another Pence in Washington?". Roll Call. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
- ^ Slodysko, Brian (July 13, 2018). "Pence family's failed gas stations cost taxpayers $20M+". Associated Press. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
- ^ a b Pathé, Simone (April 18, 2018). "Inside the Antique Mall That's Greg Pence's Largest Asset". Roll Call. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- ^ Slodysko, Brian (October 18, 2017). "Mike Pence's brother Greg launches run for Indiana U.S. House seat". Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
- ^ "Greg Pence, Representative for Indiana's 6th Congressional District". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- ^ Johannesen, Kirk (February 9, 2018). "Candidate discusses Republican concerns with party leaders, including Second Amendment rights, aid for veterans". The Republic. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
- ^ "Learn more about Greg Pence". Greg Pence for Congress. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
- ^ Ariens, Chris (March 8, 2017). "Nicole Pence, Niece of VP Mike Pence, Leaving TV News". TV Spy. AdWeek. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
- ^ "John Pence". Fox News. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
External links
- Congressman Greg Pence official U.S. House website
- Campaign site