Escalating conflict with Trump, Mike Pence endorses Karrin Taylor Robson for Arizona governor

Former Vice President Mike Pence has endorsed Republican candidate Karrin Taylor Robson in the race for Arizona governor, declaring her "the best choice for Arizona's future."

Taylor Robson's campaign also confirmed Pence would visit the Grand Canyon State on Friday, holding events for her in Phoenix and southern Arizona.

The same day, Pence's old boss, former President Donald Trump, is set to hold a rally in Prescott Valley, bringing the civil war within the Republican party to the battleground state with the primary election little more than a week away.

Pence's support of Taylor Robson is a potentially powerful last minute boost to her campaign and again puts him on the opposite side of Trump, who has endorsed former Fox 10 news anchor Kari Lake for the Republican nomination. Pence stood up to Trump's pressure campaign to overturn the 2020 election results, and earlier this year backed a sitting governor in another swing state over Trump's pick.