Pences Announce Birth of Their First Grandchild

Former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen announced Saturday the birth of their first grandchild, a baby girl born earlier this week.

"So excited to announce the arrival of our first grandchild Avery Grace Pence, born this week to our Amazing Daughter-in-Law Sarah and our son Michael!" the new grandmother wrote in a caption with several photos she shared on Twitter, including herself and the former vice president with the baby.

Michael Pence, 28, and his wife, Sarah, married in December 2016, shortly before Pence was elected vice president. He is a second lieutenant in the Marines, where he serves as a pilot and attended Purdue University, where he and his wife met.

Karen said the new baby is the first child of their son and his wife.

"We Praise God that little Avery, her Mommy, and Daddy are all doing just great!" the former second lady wrote.

Meanwhile, the former vice president will be giving his first speech since leaving office at an event for the conservative nonprofit Palmetto Family in Columbia, South Carolina, on April 29 in what is widely being seen as his first potential GOP presidential primary test, reports The State newspaper.

Pence is expected to speak to between 450-600 guests of the organization, which lobbies the state legislature, during an event at the Columbia Convention Center.

An aide of the former vice president's told The Associated Press his speech will focus on accomplishments of the Trump administration, as well as conservative values.

According to its website, Palmetto Family was founded in 1993 to "persuasively present biblical principles." The State reports the group was able to successfully lobby the South Carolina General Assembly this year to pass South Carolina's most restrictive abortion law, a "heartbeat" rule that bans most abortions after six weeks, when the law's supporters say a heartbeat can be detected in a developing fetus. It also criminalizes most abortions that are performed after six weeks and imposes a maximum prison sentence of two years for any doctor found guilty of performing an illegal abortion.

Pence had been invited to speak last month at the Conservative Political Action Conference but turned down the invitation. He has been working for the Heritage Foundation and Young America's Foundation.

South Carolina holds the first presidential primary in the south, and Pence's speech before hundreds of the state's conservatives is being seen as a test over whether he could gain the support of similar groups, reports The State.

Pence has remained quiet over his plans for the 2024 presidential campaign after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, when he and his family were rushed out after it was breached while Congress was confirming the Electoral College votes for eventual President Joe Biden.

• 3 Ways to Invest in Your Grandkids
• Laura Bush: George W. Bush's Grandkids Call Him 'Jefe'