Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician. He was the 48th Vice President of the United States between 2017 and 2021. A lawyer by occupation, he served as Governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017 and as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. A Republican, he chaired the House Republican Conference from 2009 to 2011. Pence is a longtime supporter of the Tea Party movement.