See why Mike Pence is coming to MS Book Festival, how to see him, what he will talk about

Former Vice President, and current Republican presidential candidate, Mike Pence will visit Jackson on Saturday to participate in the Mississippi Book Festival, the annual literary celebration that takes place in and around the State Capitol.

Pence, whose inclusion in the festival drew criticism and protest from local LGBTQ advocacy groups, will take part in a panel moderated by former Republican U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper focusing on Pence's autobiography "So Help Me God," which chronicles his upbringing and political career, culminating in the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

"In 'So Help Me God,' Pence shows how the faith that he embraced as a young man guided his every decision. It is a faith that guided him on that historic day and that keeps him happily at peace, ready to accept the next challenge," reads part of the book's summary from publisher Simon and Schuster.

Pence served as vice president for four years under former President Donald Trump. On Jan. 6, 2021, he was tasked with presiding over the joint session of Congress where Democratic President Joe Biden was to have his 2020 election victory certified. Trump, and many of his supporters, endorsed a theory that Pence could reject electors from states Biden narrowly won, like Georgia and Arizona, and instead seat alternate electors that would cast their state's votes for Trump. Pence has said he held no such power.

What ensued was an insurrection, as Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and temporarily halted the certification process. Ultimately, after hours of battling between the insurrectionists, Capitol Police and Secret Service, members of Congress returned from their hiding places and Pence oversaw the transfer of power.

"Loyalty is a Vice President’s first duty; but there is a greater one — to God and the Constitution," reads the Simon and Schuster summary.

Pence, who is now a candidate against Trump and others, has faced questions from skeptical Republican primary voters asking why he did not try to overturn the 2020 election. He has stood by his decisions, both on the legal and moral grounds. Whether those primary voters will be convinced remains to be seen. Polling has consistently shown Pence to be lagging behind other candidates, like Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and in some polls he is also behind entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is running a campaign sharply critical of Trump. A recent YouGov/The Economist poll had just 3% of registered Republican primary voters supporting Pence, compared to 55% for Trump.

Though the book festival is a non-partisan event, and Pence will not be campaigning, he is sure to touch on his chief opponent, and his former boss, as Trump plays a significant roll in the autobiography.

Pence's panel, moderated by Harper, will take place at 2:45 p.m. Saturday in the Old Supreme Court room inside the Capitol, and live coverage will be provided by CSPAN.

Below are overall details about Saturday's Mississippi Book Festival:

If you go

• What: Mississippi Book Festival

• When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19

• Where: Outdoors on the south lawn of the Mississippi State Capitol Building and on Mississippi Street.

• Panel discussions: Begin at 9:30 a.m.; 10:45 a.m.; 12 p.m.; 1:30 p.m.; (Mike Pence) 2:45 p.m.; and 4 p.m.

• Admission: Free

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Presidential candidate Mike Pence coming to Mississippi Book Festival