Pence Rips Socially Minded Investing, Wants to ‘Rein in’ ESG (2)

Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized investor-activist campaigns to force companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp. to follow socially conscious investing principles, saying they elevate “left-wing” goals over the interests of businesses and their employees.

Pence, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, delivered an energy policy speech on Tuesday in Houston and called for states such as Texas to “rein in” the push for employee pension funds to use environmental, social and governance principles in investing.

Mike Pence

Photographer: Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg

The former vice president cited activist investor Engine No. 1, which was backed by firms including BlackRock Inc.last year as it mounted ...