Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie set to launch 2024 presidential bid at New Hampshire town hall

51

Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, is readying to officially announce his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in a Tuesday evening town hall event in New Hampshire.

This will be Christie’s second presidential campaign, following his unsuccessful bid in 2016 when he was defeated by Donald Trump. Post his loss, Christie served as an occasional advisor to Trump, but later distanced himself due to the former president’s refusal to acknowledge the 2020 election results. Christie has positioned himself as the solitary candidate prepared to confront Donald Trump directly.

Christie joins an already expanding list of Republican primary contestants, which features Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and U.S. Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina. Additionally, former Vice President Mike Pence will officially announce his campaign in Iowa on Wednesday.

Christie, who was known for his confrontational and tenacious persona during his gubernatorial tenure in New Jersey, will face a challenging path to the nomination in a Republican party that still aligns closely with Trump, despite Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election and less than stellar Republican performance in the 2022 midterm elections.

Christie maintains that he alone has the courage to challenge Trump directly, cautioning against a repeat of 2016 if other candidates shy away from confronting Trump. He recently expressed in a podcast interview, “The way to win is to beat the guy who’s ahead… A campaign would look like a direct frontal challenge to Donald Trump trying to return to the presidency.”

Republicans against Trump are particularly excited to witness a potential debate between Christie and Trump, contingent on Trump’s agreement to partake in primary debates and Christie’s ability to meet the rigorous fundraising requirements set by the Republican National Committee.

However, Christie has declared that he won’t run as a kamikaze candidate aiming to dethrone Trump without a feasible route to his own victory, stating to Politico, “I’m not a paid assassin.”

His campaign will gauge Republican voters’ interest in a candidate who, although supportive of numerous Trump policies, criticizes the former president’s behavior.

Rejecting Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election being rigged, Christie urges the party to let go and look forward, warning of potential future losses otherwise.

Other Republicans sharing Christie’s perspectives, such as former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, have decided against running, expressing worries that a crowded field may work in Trump’s favor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chris Christie 2024 Presidential Bid

More about Chris Christie 2024 Presidential Bid

• Chris Christie’s 2016 Presidential Campaign
• Republican National Committee
• 2024 United States Presidential Election
• Former President Donald Trump
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
• Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley
• U.S. Senator Tim Scott
• Former Vice President Mike Pence