Mike Pence will be campaigning for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp

Former Vice President Mike Pence is set to stumble for Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on the eve of this month’s GOP gubernatorial primary – further distancing Pence from former President Donald Trump, who has actively supported Kemp’s opponent.

Kemp’s campaign announced Pence would attend an event on May 23 as the incumbent tries to fend off a challenge from former Senator David Perdue. Georgia’s Republican primary voters will go to the polls the following day.

“Brian Kemp is one of the most successful conservative governors in America,” Pence said in one Explanationpraising the governor’s efforts to build “a safer and stronger Georgia” by lowering taxes, investing in teachers and enforcement, and “empowering parents.”

“Brian Kemp is my friend, a man who is committed to faith, family and the people of Georgia,” Pence added. “I’m proud to offer Brian Kemp my full support as Governor of the great state of Georgia for another four years!”

Kemp said he was “honored” to have the former vice president’s endorsement and claimed Pence’s leadership was “instrumental in creating the most prosperous economy in American history.”

“[His] Commitment to building a safer and stronger America represents our party’s highest ideals,” added Kemp. “We couldn’t be more grateful for his friendship with our family and our state, and look forward to welcoming him back to the Georgia campaign!”

Pence’s endorsement comes days after his former boss published his latest swipe at Kemp – who had been highly critical of the 45th president’s claims of widespread voter fraud in the Peach State during the 2020 election.

“Today the worst governor in the country, Brian Kemp, overloaded the great state of Georgia with RINOs,” Trump said Wednesday, accusing Kemp of being “a Republican in name only.”

“That’s right, he had them all. Chris Christie, Doug Ducey from Arizona and Pete Ricketts from Nebraska. That tells you everything you need to know about what you’re getting in Georgia – just a sequel to bad elections and a real RINO if you vote for Brian Kemp.”

In March, Trump traveled to Georgia to hold a rally in support of Perdue, who backs the former president’s voter fraud allegations.

“Massive crowd last night in Georgia despite the cold weather, the excitement was incredible,” Trump said at the time. “David Perdue, taking on the horrible Governor Brian Kemp who allowed the election to be rigged and stolen, is on a very big boost. Gets interesting, but why would anyone want to vote for someone who unnecessarily allowed a really bad and unfair consent decree but wouldn’t allow a special session like the state senate was asking for. Kemp is a disaster for Georgia.”

Several other top Republicans have backed Kemp, including former President George W. Bush, and recent polls show the incumbent enjoys a double-digit lead over his challenger.

Whoever wins the Republican primary will be up against Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams — who lost to Kemp in 2018.

It’s not the first time the former Vice President has split from Trump. In February, Pence called the 45th president “wrong” about the vice president’s ability to void election results and called the conviction “un-American.”

“The presidency belongs to the American people and only to the American people,” he said at the time. “And frankly, there’s no more un-American idea than the idea that a person could vote for America’s president. I had no constitutional right to change the outcome of our election.”

Pence is believed to be considering a presidential bid in 2024 but could face an uphill battle if Trump also tosses his hat in the ring. Neither has announced any formal plans to run.