2016 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2016 Republican vice presidential nomination

| flag_image = Republican Disc.svg

| type = primary

| previous_election = 2012 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection

| previous_year = 2012

| next_election = 2024 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection

| next_year = 2024

| election_date = {{Start date|2016|07|15}}

| image1 = 160x160px

| nominee1 = Mike Pence

| colour1 = DE0100

| home_state1 = Indiana

| map_image =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| title = Vice Presidential nominee

| before_election = Paul Ryan

| before_party =

| after_election = Mike Pence

| after_party =

}}

Businessman Donald Trump of New York, the 2016 Republican nominee for President of the United States, considered several prominent Republicans and other individuals before selecting Governor Mike Pence of Indiana as his running mate on July 15, 2016. Pence formally won the vice presidential nomination at the 2016 Republican National Convention on July 19. The Trump–Pence ticket would go on to defeat the Clinton–Kaine ticket in the 2016 presidential election but ultimately lost to the Biden–Harris ticket in 2020.

Vetting process and selection

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump turned his attention towards selecting a running mate after he became the presumptive nominee on May 4, 2016.{{cite news|last1=Keneally|first1=Meghan|title=Donald Trump Teases Possible VP Requirements|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-teases-vp-requirements/story?id=38869060|access-date=May 4, 2016|work=ABC News|date=May 4, 2016}} Trump's rivals, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Governor John Kasich of Ohio,{{cite news |last=Draper |first=Robert |date=July 20, 2016 |title=How Donald Trump Picked His Running Mate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/magazine/how-donald-trump-picked-his-running-mate.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=July 24, 2016 }} had begun their vice-presidential vetting processes by April 2016, but both dropped out from the race after the Indiana primary. Cruz had selected businesswoman Carly Fiorina.{{Cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Jonathan |last2=Flegenheimer |first2=Matt |last3=Burns |first3=Alexander |date=2016-04-27 |title=Ted Cruz Names Carly Fiorina as His Running Mate, Seeking a Jolt |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/28/us/politics/ted-cruz-carly-fiorina.html |access-date=2022-03-25 |issn=0362-4331}} The vetting process begins with a thorough examination of public records, such as speeches and campaign finance reports. This is followed by a "full vet," in which potential vice presidential nominees are asked to submit detailed tax returns and medical records, and answer extensive questionnaires.{{cite news|last1=Costa|first1=Robert|last2=Rucker|first2=Philip|title=GOP veepstakes begin: Candidates start building lists and vetting prospects|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-veepstakes-begin-candidates-start-building-lists-and-vetting-prospects/2016/04/21/d50168f4-07d7-11e6-a12f-ea5aed7958dc_story.html|access-date=April 22, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 21, 2016}} Attorney Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr. led the vetting process for the Trump campaign.{{cite news|last1=Costa|first1=Robert|title=Gingrich, Christie are the leading candidates to be Trump's running mate|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gingrich-christie-are-the-leading-candidates-to-be-trumps-running-mate/2016/06/30/98fa3ecc-3eef-11e6-84e8-1580c7db5275_story.html|access-date=July 1, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 30, 2016}} Then-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and Paul Manafort presented Trump with a list of sixteen names in mid-May, and, starting in June, the Trump campaign began vetting six individuals.{{cite news|last1=Draper|first1=Robert|title=How Donald Trump Picked His Running Mate|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/magazine/how-donald-trump-picked-his-running-mate.html|access-date=July 20, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=July 20, 2016}}

Final selection

On May 10, 2016, Trump told the Associated Press that he had narrowed his list of potential running mates to "five or six people" with a background in politics, as opposed to the military or business.{{cite news|last1=Pace|first1=Julie|last2=Colvin|first2=Jill|title=AP Interview: Donald Trump says he's narrowed VP shortlist|url=http://elections.ap.org/content/ap-interview-donald-trump-says-hes-narrowed-vp-shortlist|access-date=May 10, 2016|agency=Associated Press|date=May 10, 2016}} However, on July 6, Trump stated that "about" ten people remained in the running as potential running mate selections.{{cite news|last1=Gass|first1=Nick|title=Trump on VP: There are 2 generals under consideration|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/trump-vice-president-generals-225177|access-date=July 6, 2016|work=Politico|date=July 6, 2016}} In mid-June, Eli Stokols and Burgess Everett of Politico reported that Trump's shortlist included Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, former Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, and Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma.{{cite news|last1=Stokols|first1=Eli|last2=Everett|first2=Burgess|title=Trump's performance raises hard question: Who'd want to be his VP?|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/donald-trump-vice-president-224488|access-date=June 21, 2016|work=Politico|date=June 17, 2016}} A June 30 report in The Washington Post also included Senators Bob Corker of Tennessee, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, and Joni Ernst of Iowa, as well as Governor Mike Pence of Indiana, as individuals still being considered for the ticket. The Trump campaign also strongly considered Governor John Kasich of Ohio, considering him the "perfect choice," but Kasich refused to be considered for the ticket (or endorse the Trump campaign). In early July, Corker and Ernst both declined to be considered as Trump's running mate.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/06/politics/bob-corker-vice-presidential-list/index.html|title=Corker takes himself out of Trump VP consideration|first1=Eugene |last1=Scott |first2=Manu |last2=Raju |first3=Betsy|last3=Klein|website=CNN |date=July 6, 2016 |access-date=July 14, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/joni-ernst-trump-vice-president-225169|title=Ernst all but withdraws from Trump veepstakes|website=Politico |date=July 6, 2016 |access-date=July 14, 2016}} Meanwhile, Trump stated that he was considering two military generals for the position, including retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn.{{cite news|last1=Zurcher|first1=Anthony|title=US election: Who will Trump pick as his vice-president?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36678388|access-date=July 8, 2016|publisher=BBC|date=July 8, 2016}} On July 12, NBC News reported that Trump was planning to formally introduce his eventual pick on July 15, though "it's not clear whether or not the identity of the pick could be released or could leak earlier in the week." The same article reported that he had narrowed his list down to Christie, Gingrich, and Pence.{{cite web|last=O'Donnell|first=Kelly|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/team-trump-plans-public-event-friday-vp-pick-n608161|title=Team Trump Plans Public Event Friday With VP Pick|work=NBC News|date=July 12, 2016|access-date=July 12, 2016}}

= Shortlist =

Chris Christie at Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC), Oklahoma City, OK May 2015 by Michael Vadon 127 (3x4 crop).jpg|{{center| Governor and 2016 presidential candidate
Chris Christie
from New Jersey
(2010–2018)}}

File:Newt Gingrich (16055210273) (cropped).jpg|{{center|Former Speaker of the House of Representatives
Newt Gingrich
from Georgia
(1995–1999)}}

File:Mike Pence February 2015.jpg|{{center|Governor
Mike Pence
from Indiana
(2013–2017)}}

Media speculation on possible selections

=Members of Congress=

File:Kelly Ayotte, Official Portrait, 112th Congress 1.jpg|{{center|Senator
Kelly Ayotte
of New Hampshire}}

File:Marsha Blackburn (16480914188) (cropped).jpg|{{center|Representative
Marsha Blackburn
of Tennessee{{cite news|title=GOP Senators Praise Corker as Potential Trump VP|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/05/24/gop_senators_praise_corker_as_potential_trump_vp_130654.html}}}}

File:Senator Scott Brown at NH FITN 2016 by Michael Vadon 12 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Former Senator
Scott Brown
of Massachusetts}}

File:Richard Burr official portrait (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
Richard Burr
of North Carolina}}

File:Bob Corker official Senate photo (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
Bob Corker
of Tennessee}}

File:Ted Cruz February 2015.jpg|{{center|Senator
Ted Cruz
of Texas a 2016 presidential candidate}}

File:Joni Ernst Official photo portrait 114th Congress (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
Joni Ernst
of Iowa{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Jessica|title=First female president or vice president near-certain come 2016|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/235448-a-woman-in-the-white-house-in-2017-its-likely/|access-date= October 4, 2015|work=The Hill|date= March 12, 2015}}}}

File:Rob Portman official portrait (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
Rob Portman
of Ohio{{cite news|last1=Bolton|first1=Alexander|title=Veepstakes cloud Senate GOP hopes of preserving majority|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/265016-veepstakes-cloud-senate-gop-hopes-of-preserving-majority/|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=The Hill|date=January 7, 2016}}}}

File:Shelley Moore Capito official Senate photo (cropped 2).jpg|{{center|Senator
Shelley Moore Capito
from West Virginia}}

File:Cathy McMorris Rodgers official photo (cropped).jpg|{{center|Representative
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
of Washington}}

File:Marco Rubio by Gage Skidmore 8 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
Marco Rubio
of Florida{{cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=Sean|title=Handicapping the 2016 vice presidential field. Yes, you read that right.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/03/07/handicapping-the-2016-vice-presidential-field-yes-you-read-that-right/|accessdate= October 4, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date= March 7, 2014}} a 2016 presidential candidate}}

File:Tim Scott, official portrait, 113th Congress (cropped 2).jpg|{{center|Senator
Tim Scott
of South Carolina{{cite news|last1=Parker|first1=Ashley|last2=Healy|first2=Patrick|title=Who Might (or Might Not) Be Donald Trump's Running Mate if He's the Nominee?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/05/01/us/politics/donald-trump-running-mate.html|accessdate=April 30, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=April 20, 2016}}}}

File:Jeff Sessions, official portrait (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
Jeff Sessions
of Alabama{{cite news|last1=Hattem|first1=Julian|title=Sessions: Don't bet on me being Trump's VP|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/275502-trumps-senate-backer-dont-bet-money-on-me-being-vp/|access-date=April 21, 2016|work=The Hill|date=April 7, 2016}}}}

File:John Thune 117th Congress portrait (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
John Thune
of South Dakota}}

=Governors=

File:Charlie Baker official portrait (cropped).jpg|{{center|Charlie Baker
of Massachusetts{{cite news|last1=Keneally|first1=Meghan|title=Growing List of Possible Vice Presidential Candidates on Both Sides|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/growing-list-vice-presidential-candidates-sides/story?id=37983984|accessdate=April 22, 2016|publisher=ABC News|date=March 28, 2016}}}}

File:Jan Brewer by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg|{{center|Jan Brewer
of Arizona{{cite news |date=May 6, 2016 |title=Ariz. Gov. Jan Brewer says she is open to being Donald Trump's vice president |url=https://ktar.com/story/1058111/donald-trump-supporters-point-to-former-ariz-gov-jan-brewer-as-potential-vp/ |publisher=KtarNews.com}}}}

File:Governor Phil Bryant (cropped).jpg|{{center|Phil Bryant
of Mississippi}}

File:Nathan Deal, April 25, 2017 (cropped2).jpg|{{center|Nathan Deal
of Georgia}}

File:Governor Mary Fallin May 2015 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Mary Fallin
of Oklahoma{{cite news|last1=Hillyard|first1=Vaughn|title=Fallin Allies Say 'Softer Touch' Would Complement Trump Bid|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/fallin-allies-say-softer-touch-would-complement-trump-bid-n600171|accessdate=June 28, 2016|publisher=NBC News|date=June 28, 2016}}}}

File:Nikki Haley IMG 7865 (26850251111) (cropped).jpg|{{center|Nikki Haley
of South Carolina}}

File:Governor Bill Haslam crop.jpg|{{center|Bill Haslam
of Tennessee}}

File:Jon Huntsman Jr. 2016.jpg|Jon Huntsman Jr.
of Utah (2005–2009), a 2012 presidential candidate{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=David|title=The Donald Trump Veepstakes: A Cheat Sheet|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/trump-vp-cheat-sheet/481662/|accessdate=June 15, 2016|work=The Atlantic|date=June 3, 2016}}

File:Asa Hutchinson 2019.jpg|{{center|Asa Hutchinson
of Arkansas}}

File:Bobby Jindal August 2015.jpg|Bobby Jindal
of Louisiana (2008–2016), a 2016 presidential candidate

File:John Kasich (24618295175) (cropped).jpg|{{center|John Kasich
of Ohio, a 2000 and 2016 presidential candidate}}

File:Governor NewMexico (cropped).jpg|{{center|Susana Martinez
of New Mexico}}

File:Sarah Palin (16672078851) (cropped2).jpg|{{center|Sarah Palin
of Alaska,
(2006–2009), the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee}}

File:Gov. Perry CPAC February 2015.jpg|{{center|Rick Perry
of Texas (2000–2015), a 2012 and 2016 presidential candidate}}

File:Mitt Romney (30342393507) (cropped).jpg|Mitt Romney
of Massachusetts (2003–2007), a 2012 presidential nominee

File:Brian Sandoval 2010 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Brian Sandoval
of Nevada}}

File:Rick Scott (cropped).jpg|{{center|Rick Scott
of Florida{{cite news|last1=Cillizza|first1=Chris|title=It's time to start speculating about Donald Trump's vice presidential pick|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/23/its-time-to-start-speculating-about-donald-trumps-vice-presidential-pick/|accessdate=February 24, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 23, 2016}}}}

File:Rick Snyder in 2013.jpg|{{center|Rick Snyder
of MichiganOosting, Jonathan (October 3, 2015) [http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/10/michigan_political_points_vice.html "Michigan Political Points: Vice presidential speculation begins for Gov. Rick Snyder"], MLive .}}

File:Governor Scott Walker.jpg|{{center|Scott Walker
of Wisconsin, a 2016 presidential candidate}}

=Others=

File:Herman Cain by Gage Skidmore.jpg|{{center|Businessman
Herman Cain
of Georgia,{{cite news|last1=Hagen|first1=Lisa|title=Veepstakes: Who Trump might pick?|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/271892-veepstakes-who-trump-might-pick/|access-date=March 26, 2016|work=The Hill|date=March 6, 2016}} a 2000 and 2012 presidential candidate}}

File:Ben Carson by Gage Skidmore 6.jpg|{{center|Retired neurosurgeon
Ben Carson
of Maryland,{{cite news|last1=Resnick|first1=Gideon|title=Ben Carson's Camp Plots Vice Presidential Bid|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/18/carson-s-camp-plots-vp-bid.html|accessdate=March 28, 2016|work=The Daily Beast|date=March 18, 2016}} a 2016 presidential candidate}}

File:Carly Fiorina (16669797001) (cropped).jpg|{{center|Former Hewlett-Packard CEO
Carly Fiorina
of California, a 2016 presidential candidate}}

File:Michael T Flynn (cropped).jpg|{{center|Retired General
Michael T. Flynn,{{cite news|last1=Cadigan|first1=Will|title=Trump's Veepstakes: Who is Michael Flynn?|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/26/politics/michael-flynn-donald-trump-vp-search/|accessdate=July 6, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=May 27, 2016}} former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency}}

File:Rudy Giuliani by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg|{{center|Former New York City Mayor
Rudy Giuliani
of New York,{{cite news|last1=Oliphant|first1=James|title=Unpopularity of Clinton, Trump puts spotlight on potential running mates|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-vicepresident-idUSKCN0XJ14K|accessdate=April 22, 2016|work=Reuters|date=April 22, 2016}} a 2008 presidential candidate}}

File:James Mattis official Transition portrait (cropped).jpg|{{center|Retired General
James Mattis,{{cite news|last1=Easley|first1=Jonathan|title=Trump's VP: Top 10 contenders|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/278773-trumps-vp-top-10-contenders/|access-date=May 5, 2016|work=The Hill|date=May 5, 2016}} former commander of the United States Central Command}}

File:Condoleezza Rice,1st & Future event at Stanford University (cropped).jpg|{{center|Former Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice
of California}}

File:Joe Scarborough (NBC News) (cropped).jpg|{{center|Television host and former Representative
Joe Scarborough
of Florida}}

Announcement

On July 14, it was reported that Mike Pence had been selected as Donald Trump's running mate, following his acceptance of Trump's offer.{{cite web|last1=Bradner|first1=Eric|last2=Bash|first2=Dana|last3=Lee|first3=MJ|title=Donald Trump selects Mike Pence as VP|date=July 14, 2016 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/14/politics/donald-trump-vice-presidential-choice/|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 14, 2016}} Trump had planned to officially announce his choice on July 15 at 11 am. ET, in Manhattan,{{cite web|last1=Cook|first1=Tony|last2=Briggs|first2=James|last3=Schneider|first3=Chelsea|title=Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is Donald Trump's VP pick|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/14/report-pence-trumps-vp-pick/87075866/|publisher=indystar.com|access-date=July 14, 2016}} but, following a terrorist attack in Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France, announced the day prior that he would postpone the announcement. On the morning of July 15, Trump announced via Twitter his choice of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate. Trump made the formal announcement at a news conference at 11 a.m. on July 16. Pence had been running for re-election as Governor of Indiana, but Indiana law prevented him from appearing on the election ballot twice, so Pence suspended his gubernatorial campaign.{{cite web |url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/14/report-pence-trumps-vp-pick/87075866/ |title=Pence is Trump's VP pick |first1=James |last1=Briggs |first2=Tony |last2=Cook |work=Indianapolis Star |date=July 14, 2016}} Within the Trump campaign, Pence emerged as a potential running mate in May due to the backing of senior advisers Kellyanne Conway and Paul Manafort.{{cite news|last1=Wren|first1=Adam|title=Did Trump Just Make a Huge Mistake?|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/07/mike-pence-vp-donald-trump-indiana-214054|access-date=July 16, 2016|work=Politico|date=July 15, 2016}} CNN reported that multiple sources told them that Trump had second thoughts on the Pence pick and attempted to pick Christie instead, though the Trump campaign denied those reports.{{cite news|last1=Collinson|first1=Stephen|title=Trump, Pence step into the spotlight together|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/16/politics/donald-trump-mike-pence-campaign-trail/|access-date=July 18, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=July 16, 2016}} Following the selection, The New York Times noted that Pence is a "sturdy and predictable politician" who has a strong appeal to the Christian right.{{cite news|last1=Burns|first1=Alexander|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|last3=Kaplan|first3=Thomas|title=Donald Trump Selects Mike Pence, Indiana Governor, as Running Mate|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/16/us/politics/mike-pence-donald-trump-vice-president.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news|access-date=July 15, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=July 15, 2016}} On July 19, the second night of the 2016 Republican National Convention, Pence won the vice presidential nomination by acclamation.{{cite news|last1=Cook|first1=Tony|title=Gov. Mike Pence formally nominated as the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/19/indiana-formally-casts-its-votes-nominate-trump-republican-national-convention/87317966/|access-date=July 20, 2016|publisher=Indianapolis Star|date=July 19, 2016}}