Mike Hot-Pence, embodied by 51-year-old graphic designer Glen Pannell, burst into public view after being photographed and profiled by Howard Sherman in 2016.
Sherman is a blogger who takes photos of Times Square performers and shares their stories online.
Pannell spoke with Buzzfeed about how, following the 2016 election, he felt he needed to do something. That's when he decided to take advantage of something many friends had surely commented on: his resemblance to the new Vice President.
He commented:
"The depression kept feeding on itself so I finally decided I had to do something, and it had to be bold and immediate, something I could point to at the end of the day and say, 'Here's what I did to make change.'"
Hot-Pence has already collected tens of thousands of dollars for "Planned Parenthood, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Trevor Project."
Pannell's alter-ego is also active on Twitter, where you can follow the account @MikeHotPence for updates on how our spiritual VP is doing.
Pannell noted a spike in his popularity again in December 2019.
Pannell made it clear this activity was more than just a hobby.
"These are all groups and causes that suffered when Pence was in office, so I worry about them in the next few years under a Trump-Pence administration."
Since Pannell has a full time job, Hot-Pence can only be found during the weekends, and will hope to find an indoor place to operate as the weather gets colder in NYC.
Pannell is confident, however, that his silly work is making a real difference.
"People want to give and they want to talk. I'm 51. I never expect anything I do to go viral online. I do understand why people respond to it. It's funny, and it's hopeful, and people need that right now."
There's only one thing left to say: Mike Hot-Pence 2020.
