115th Congress (2017 - 2019)

Member Spotlight

Featured: Mike Pence (R-IN), the 48th Vice President of the United States, has become a defining figure in early 21st-century American politics. Born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana, he graduated from Hanover College and earned his J.D. from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. After unsuccessful bids for Congress in 1988 and 1990, he served as a conservative radio and television talk show host from 1994 to 1999. Pence was elected to the House of Representatives in 2000, representing Indiana's 2nd and 6th congressional districts until 2013. He served as Chairman of the House Republican Conference from 2009 to 2011. In 2012, he was elected Governor of Indiana, a position he held until 2017. During his tenure, he enacted significant tax cuts and signed multiple anti-abortion bills into law. He also faced criticism for signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was later amended to address concerns over discrimination. In July 2016, Pence was selected as Donald Trump's running mate for the 2016 presidential election. He served as Vice President from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021. During his vice presidency, Pence chaired the National Space Council and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. After an unsuccessful presidential bid of his own, Pence would join the faculty at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government as a distinguished professor of practice in September of 2025.