News

Mike Pence's Daughter Audrey Is Socially Liberal

by Rosie Holden Vacanti Gilroy

Update: On Friday via one simple tweet, Donald Trump confirmed Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is his vice presidential running mate.

Earlier: Audrey Pence, daughter of rumored Trump vice presidential pick Mike Pence, grew up on the campaign trail — before her father became the governor of Indiana, he was a six-term member of congress. However, it doesn't seem as if Gov. Pence's conservative political views rubbed off on her: Surprisingly, Audrey Pence is socially liberal. As soon as news broke on Thursday afternoon that Trump is likely to announce Governor Pence as his pick for vice president (camp Trump has yet to confirm) interest was sparked about the governor's youngest daughter, who is 21.

In a 2013 interview conducted when her father took office as the governor of Indiana, Audrey Pence, told WHTR that she was socially liberal, but politically independent. She also admitted that she had voted a split-ticket. However, it doesn't seem as if Audrey Pence's father was upset by his daughter's political views. Instead, Audrey Pence said of the governor: "Probably the person I get the most respect from is my dad on that. ... He tells me so many times, 'I am proud of you for having your own opinions and looking into things.'"

Considering just how conservative Gov. Pence's political views are, it's surprising that he is so accepting of his daughter's liberal-mindedness.

Mother Jones reported that Gov. Pence signed extremely stringent abortion-access legislation into law. The governor's legislation made it illegal for women to receive an abortion on account of disability. He has also espoused anti-LGBTQ legislation. He has, however, departed from Trump's views on banning Muslim people from entering the United States.

If Trump does announce that Gov. Pence will be his running mate on Friday, it will be an indication that he wants to prove to the GOP that he is a conservative presidential candidate, in line with Republican ideals. Therefore, it's impossible not to wonder, would Audrey vote for a Trump-Pence ticket?

WHTR reported that Audrey Pence did, in fact, cast a ballot for her father when he was elected to be the Governor of Indiana. She reportedly stated in the 2013 interview, "Yes, I voted for him. I did vote for him. He proved himself to me."

It's unlikely that someone who identifies as socially liberal would vote for Trump — or for Pence — but perhaps The Donald will win Audrey Pence's vote since he's put her father on the ticket. But then again, it's hard to imagine Trump proving himself to the governor's daughter.