Mike Pence officially files for presidential run

Pence, the former Republican governor of Indiana and Trump White House vice president, will be going head-to-head against his former boss Donald Trump after Pence makes an official announcement which is reportedly set to take place in Des Moines, Iowa later this week.

Speculation of a potential bid for president surfaced in May when a super PAC called "Committed to America" was launched by Pence's close allies, Axios reports.

Pence has eyes set on the battleground states and will be campaigning in all of Iowa's 99 counties, a move that sources say will "put Mike Pence in an advantageous position," sources told NBC News last week.

"We view this race as absolutely wide open, and Iowa is really going to solidify itself as the pivotal player," the source told the network. "It's a place that values Mike Pence's principles — traditional conservative principles — deep-rooted faith and uncommon character."

According to the source, Pence will focus on hosting town hall-style events in Iowa where he can have more intimate discussions with battleground voters.

"What better place to do your announcement than a place that's going to be so pivotal in the future of the nation," the source said. "It certainly conveys the importance that we're placing on the state."

Mike Pence will be campaigning on conservative policies similar to those of the Reagan era, focusing on fiscal responsibility, robust military spending, fewer regulations and abortion, the network reports.

The Republican primary will be an ardent battle between former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, tech-entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who recently fit the criteria to make the debate stage, and now former Vice President Mike Pence, who previously served as Indiana's governor for four years.