Donald Trump picks Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as VP running mate

INDIANAPOLIS (WLS) -- Donald Trump has picked Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate, ABC News says.

Trump confirmed his choice in a tweet Friday morning:

The 57-year-old Indiana governor is an avowed Christian and former congressman who assumed the governor's office in 2013. In 2015 he signed Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was mostly repealed after protests by gay rights groups.

"He's not controversial," said ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington. "He's mild mannered, he's not going to overshadow Trump and he's not going to get Trump into trouble."

In Munster, many Hoosiers beamed with pride at the possibility of their governor becoming VP.

"Governor Pence has brought up Indiana and he's going to bring up Donald Trump also," said Conrad Buitron of Munster.

Speaker Paul Ryan said he's a big fan of the Indiana governor.

"We're very good friends," Ryan said. "I have a very high regard for him."

Trump met with Gov. Pence at his Indiana home Wednesday morning, along with his children Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, and campaign chair Paul Manafort.

Sources told ABC News that Donald Trump Sr. was not supposed to stay in Indiana Wednesday night and was scheduled to fly to New York with Pence in tow but after his plane had some mechanical issues, he and his team were forced to spend the night after a rally in Westfield, where he was introduced by Pence. Eric Trump was already with his father in Indiana but sources tell ABC that Trump Sr. had the rest of his family fly out this morning for the meeting.

The pair met after the rally, and sources said the two had "a very good chat," though no offer was made to the governor at that point.

Trump was also considering former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who publicly announced that he is being vetted for the job. He flew into Indianapolis Wednesday to meet with Trump at the Conrad Hotel.

A third top contender was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who ABC News confirmed was being vetted. Christie met with Trump's children on Monday, according to a senior party official.

Sharon Tully, of Munster, said she does not believe Pence's name on the Republican ticket will help Trump win in the fall.

"Because I don't like Governor Pence and most of the people who are my friends don't like Governor Pence," Tully said.

The official announcement was scheduled to be made Friday in New York City but due to the attack in Nice, France, the news conference was postponed, according to a tweet from Trump on Thursday.

Stay tuned to ABC7Chicago.com and ABC7 Eyewitness News for more on this breaking news story.