1 of 29 '); } Pence spent his time knitting different ideas together, which included tying the Republican Party of 1854, when it was founded in Ripon, to the Republican Party of today. He also tied President Donald Trumpâs Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, to the more left-leaning former presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders and their policies to a potential rise of socialism in America. While the vice president was speaking inside Ripon Collegeâs Great Hall, a lot of the attention was placed on what was happening not far from downtown as Trump supporters turned out strongly and so, to a lesser degree, did those who opposed his presidency.