WASHINGTON – Former US vice-president Mike Pence on Monday declared himself a candidate in the 2024 Republican race for the White House, setting up a fight against former president Donald Trump.

Mr Pence’s campaign filed a declaration of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.

He will launch his campaign with a video and a speech in the early nominating state of Iowa on Wednesday, according to three sources familiar with the matter last week.

Mr Pence’s run pits him against front runner Trump, whom he once loyally stood by but refused to back when the former president attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden.

A staunch social conservative, the former governor of Indiana has increasingly distanced himself from Trump, saying his encouragement of the rioters who attacked the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, endangered Mr Pence and his family, who were in the building at the time.

Mr Pence joins a growing field of Republican candidates, which includes Trump, Senator Tim Scott and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum also plans to enter the race on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with his plans.

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie is jumping into the race on Tuesday, bringing the total number of Republican candidates into double digits.

The number of candidates vying for the nomination concerns many Trump opponents inside the Republican Party, who fear the anti-Trump vote could be split and hand the party’s nomination to the former president. REUTERS