Potential GOP VP nominee Stefanik: 'I would not have done what Mike Pence did' on Jan. 6

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik said Thursday she would not have handled the 2020 election results certification process on Jan. 6, 2021, the same way former Vice President Mike Pence did – adding to the speculation that she's actively auditioning to be Donald Trump's 2024 running mate if he becomes the GOP presidential nominee. 

“I would not have done what Mike Pence did. I don’t think that was the right approach,” Stefanik said during an interview on CNN. “I specifically stand by what I said on the House floor."

Stefanik addressed some of the COVID-era election policies in states like Pennsylvania. 

"There was unconstitutional overreach in states like Pennsylvania, and I think it’s very important that we continue to stand up for the Constitution and have legal and secure elections, which we did not have in 2020," Stefanik said. "It was unconstitutional when there was circumventing state legislatures, unilaterally changing election law."

Looking at the 2024 election, Stefanik lamented Democrat efforts to remove Trump from the ballot in certain states.

"Radical leftists can't stand the fact that Donald Trump continues to skyrocket in the polls and Joe Biden continues to plummet," she said. 

Stefanik is reportedly on Trump's list of potential running mates. 

“Any shortlist in my opinion should include Elise Stefanik,” said Roger Stone, a longtime GOP strategist. “She’s demonstrated her courage and her leadership qualities. But it’s also very, very early in the process.”