Chris Christie Withdraws from 2024 Presidential Race
Former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie bows out of the 2024 Republican presidential race, as the party bids farewell to its most vocal anti-Trump contender
Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, has decided to end his bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. This announcement comes just 10 days before the first-in-the-nation primary and signals the departure of one of the most vocal critics of former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary. "It is clear to me tonight that there isn't a path for me to win the nomination, which is why I'm suspending my campaign tonight for President of the United States," he stated during a town hall in Windham, New Hampshire. Christie emphasized that this decision is the "right thing for me to do" and vowed never to "enable Donald Trump to become, or ever be president of the United States again."
Christie's choice follows a recent string of discouraging poll results, particularly in New Hampshire, where he had anticipated support from a more moderate voter base to rally behind his strong stance against Trump, whom he criticized as "devoid of character."
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump wrapped up a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa on December 19, 2023. Iowa Republicans will be the first to select their party's nomination for the 2024 presidential race when they go to caucus on January 15, 2024. In another event, US Republican presidential candidate and former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley spoke at a town hall meeting hosted by Fox News in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 8, 2024.
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CNN Poll: Haley trims Trumps lead to single digits in New Hampshire
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley could benefit from his departure as she has gained ground on Trump in the Granite State, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire. Among Christie supporters, 65% listed Haley as their second choice, and she trailed Trump 39% to 32% among likely primary voters. It is unclear whether Christie will encourage his backers to support Haley, as he has no immediate plans to endorse another candidate. Before leaving the race, he criticized Haley and implied that she was running for Trump's vice president with an eye on a future promotion in 2028.
Even though he has suspended his presidential campaign, his name will still appear on the ballot in New Hampshire for the upcoming January 23 primary. During his remarks on Wednesday, Christie made subtle jabs at Donald Trump's competitors.
"Anyone who refuses to acknowledge that (Trump) is not fit to be president of the United States," Christie declared, "is also not fit to be president of the United States."
During his speech on Wednesday, Christie subtly criticized other Republican candidates running against Trump. When asked by a voter on Tuesday about the need for anti-Trump Republicans to unite behind a single opponent, Christie once again questioned Haley's motives and expressed concern about how endorsing her would be perceived.
"If I were to withdraw from the race at this moment and throw my support behind Nikki Haley, then later on, when you're all set for the convention, she emerges as his vice president. How would that reflect on me? And how would it reflect on all the people who backed her upon my recommendation?" he said.
Chris Christie speaks at a town hall event in New Hampshire on Wednesday.
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Despite vehemently denying on Tuesday that he was considering dropping out, Christie seemed to hint at a different direction earlier on Wednesday. "I urge you, I plead with you to vote based on character. Everything else can change. Character doesn't change," he told voters in Exeter, New Hampshire. "Honestly, this doesn't mean you have to vote for me. You might decide that there's another person in this race of good character that you prefer."
Christie officially kicked off his bid for the GOP presidential nomination in June 2023 at a town hall in New Hampshire. During his speech, he strongly criticized Trump, describing him as a "self-absorbed narcissist" and a danger to American democracy if re-elected for a second term. "Beware of the leader in this country whom you have entrusted with power, who refuses to admit fault or take responsibility for his actions, and who has never experienced defeat," Christie warned.
In smaller, more conservative settings, his tone was more subdued and practical. He repeated the warning that Trump would be a disastrous choice for the general election, dragging down the entire GOP ticket. "We just keep on losing," Christie remarked at a GOP Jewish Coalition event in 2022, shortly after lackluster midterm elections. "And it's because Donald Trump prioritizes himself over everyone else."
Chris Christie speaks in McLean, Virginia, in 2015. The former New Jersey governor has suspended his presidential campaign.
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In this 2015 Instagram post, Chris Christie is pictured alongside his brother Todd. Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1962, Christie and his family later relocated to Livingston, New Jersey where he attended high school. He then went on to study at the University of Delaware.
"A friend of mine from high school dug up this old pic - look at that sweater (and hair)!" Christie wrote on Instagram.
From Chris Christie/Instagram
Christie and Mary Pat first met at the University of Delaware. In 2015, Christie shared a photo of them together, taken 30 years earlier. They tied the knot in 1986 and have since welcomed four children.
Christie, who held the position of US attorney for New Jersey from 2002 to 2008, brought about the prosecution of over 130 public officials on corruption charges. In this image, he is addressing the media regarding an FBI sting that took place in August 2003.
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Christie has makeup applied before a gubernatorial debate with Chris Daggett, center, and New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine in October 2009.
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Christie greets supporters in Parsippany, New Jersey, after he defeated Corzine in November 2009. He won by nearly four percentage points.
Christopher Barth/AP
Christie is flanked by his wife and their children as they attend the dedication of Empty Sky, a 9/11 memorial in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 2011.
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Christie, center, touches the Western Wall in Jerusalem in April 2012. He was on his first official overseas trip as governor.
Sebastian Scheiner/AP
In August 2012, Christie delivered the keynote address at the Republican National Convention, emphasizing the importance of focusing on ideas over rhetoric. He also highlighted differences between Republicans and Democrats on governing philosophy and showcased his bipartisan achievements in balancing the state's budget and reforming the pension and health benefit system.
Christie converses with Mitt Romney on board Romney's campaign bus in October 2012. He was one of the individuals considered for the role of Romney's running mate, but ultimately, Romney chose US Rep. Paul Ryan.
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Christie updates the public about damage and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.
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President Barack Obama is welcomed by Christie during his visit to New Jersey to assess the impact of Hurricane Sandy. They joined forces to survey the devastated beach towns. "I believe the people of New Jersey understand that (Christie) has devoted all his efforts to ensuring that the people of New Jersey recover even more resilient than before. I am grateful to him for his exceptional leadership and collaboration," Obama expressed.
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Christie walks with Britain's Prince Harry on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, in May 2013. Harry was on a weeklong US tour.
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Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker share a laugh during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Newark charter schools in September 2013.
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Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, celebrate their re-election as governor in November 2013, waving to supporters. He secured a second term by defeating his Democratic opponent, Barbara Buono, with a margin of over 20 percentage points. (Source: Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
In January 2014, Christie visited the borough hall in Fort Lee, New Jersey, to offer an apology to Mayor Mark Sokolich. This was following days of traffic disruptions on the George Washington Bridge, impacting the connection between Manhattan and Fort Lee. Allegations surfaced that Christie's deputy chief of staff had orchestrated the closure of the lanes through the New York and New Jersey Port Authority, as a form of retribution for Sokolich's lack of endorsement during the election. Christie maintained that he had no knowledge of any such plot. While he was never charged in the "Bridgegate" scandal, two former officials associated with his office, including the deputy chief of staff, were convicted in 2017 for abusing their power to carry out the lane closures as a political act of revenge. The US Supreme Court, in 2020, overturned the fraud convictions.
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Demonstrators stand with the word "Bridgegate" spelled out on their shirts as Christie holds a town hall-style meeting in Flemington, New Jersey, in March 2014.
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Christie addressed the press in a March 2014 news conference regarding the Fort Lee lane closures. He announced the resignation of the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, following an internal investigation that exonerated Christie in the scandal.
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Christie campaigns for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker during a stop at the GOP field office in Hudson, Wisconsin, in September 2014.
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In October 2014, while campaigning for governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan appears to ignore Chris Christie as he addresses the media in Bethesda, Maryland. Christie, in his role as head of the Republican Governors Association, had visited Maryland to support Hogan's campaign.
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In 2015, at New York's Yankee Stadium, Christie participated in the "True Blue" celebrity softball game, where she made a throw to first base. The event was a charity fundraiser aimed at providing support for the families of fallen New York police officers.
Christie, as a presidential candidate, listens to a question during a campaign stop in Concord, New Hampshire, in January 2016.
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Christie meets with diners during a campaign stop in Greenland, New Hampshire, in January 2016.
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Christie meets with fellow Republican candidate Donald Trump during a break in a presidential debate in February 2016. Throughout the debate, Christie targeted US Sen. Marco Rubio, who was positioned to do well in the polls. His aggressive criticism of Rubio, who was gaining popularity, was one of the most notable moments of the evening.
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In March 2016, Trump and Christie spoke at a campaign rally in Hickory, North Carolina. Just weeks before, Christie had put a halt to his campaign and showed his support for Trump as president. He stated, "There is no one who is better prepared to provide America with the strong leadership that it needs."
During the Republican National Convention in July 2016, Christie delivered a scathing speech targeting the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee. "It is our duty to prevent Hillary Clinton from getting anywhere near the White House," he asserted. "It is time to unite and ensure that Donald Trump becomes our next president. I am honored to be a part of this team. Now let's go out and win this."
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In March 2017, Christie was seen shaking hands with President Trump at the White House. During this visit, Trump revealed that Christie would be assuming an advisory position to assist in developing strategies to combat the nation's opioid crisis.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson presents Christie with a belt in April 2017 for the governor's work in helping former prisoners re-enter society.
Julio Cortez/AP
In July 2017, Christie enjoyed the company of family and friends at Island Beach State Park, where the governor has a summer residence. The park was empty as Christie had shut down the state government two days earlier when the Legislature failed to pass a budget, resulting in the closure of all state-run tourist attractions to the public.
Photo credit: Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media/AP
Christie leaves after delivering his final State of the State address in January 2018. His second term was just about up.
Seth Wenig/AP
Christie shakes hands with his successor, Phil Murphy, after Murphy was sworn in as governor in January 2018.
Julio Cortez/AP
In September 2020, Christie attended a news conference at the White House. The following month, he was part of a team of senior Trump campaign staff members who contracted Covid-19 after the president did. Christie disclosed that he spent a week in an intensive care unit, and he penned an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal titled "I Should Have Worn a Mask."
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Christie greets students before a college basketball game in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2022.
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Christie poses for a selfie after a town hall-style meeting in Henniker, New Hampshire, in April 2023.
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Christie waves to people in Manchester, New Hampshire, as he announces his presidential run in June 2023.
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Christie participates in a CNN town hall event hosted by Anderson Cooper in New York in June 2023.
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Christie visits Kfar Aza, Israel, in November 2023. He was the first Republican presidential candidate to visit the country following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
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In pictures: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
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The former governor emphasized his readiness to confront Trump directly as a major element of his campaign, consistently criticizing the GOP front-runner for his mounting legal issues and, more recently, for his escalating and divisive language.
"Hes getting more unhinged," Christie remarked on CNNs "State of the Union" last month.
When questioned about Trumps statement about immigrants "poisoning the blood of our country," the former governor unleashed his thoughts.
"He's repulsive," Christie stated. "And his actions are aimed at appealing to Americans who are feeling overwhelmed by the economy and global conflicts."
In 2016, Christie supported Trump after withdrawing from the GOP presidential primary and later provided advice for his 2020 presidential campaign. However, he revealed to CNN's Jake Tapper last year that Trump's behavior on election night in 2016 caused his support to crumble, and eventually vanish.
Christie admitted to being mistaken about Trump, conceding that he was unable to improve him as a candidate or a president. "He let me down," Christie stated. He also accused Trump of "inciting" the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol "in an attempt to pressure Mike Pence and Congress to overturn the election, as he explicitly stated last week."
During the first Republican primary debate in Milwaukee last August, Christie rebuked his fellow candidates for raising their hands in support of Trump as the GOP nominee, even if he was convicted of a crime. Trump currently faces 91 charges across four cases, in addition to increasing civil liabilities.
"Someone needs to put a stop to normalizing this behavior," Christie remarked, shaking his head disapprovingly at the six candidates who raised their hands. "Regardless of your stance on the criminal charges, the conduct is not befitting of the office of the President of the United States."
After being met with boos from the audience, Christie reassured New Hampshire voters in his first post-debate appearance that he would never support a convicted felon as President of the United States. "Let's make that clear on primary night in New Hampshire," he declared. "And if you do, I promise you, I will win the nomination and defeat Joe Biden."
Christie openly prioritized the New Hampshire primary, frequently visiting the Granite State since early September. During a town hall in North Hampton, New Hampshire, Christie stated, "Let me just tell you, if (Trump) wins here, he's winning the nomination."
In 2016, Christie had publicly supported Trump shortly after dropping out of the GOP primary and finishing sixth in the New Hampshire vote. He stated that his new presidential campaign would be distinct, even considering voting for a third-party candidate in the general election, although he ruled out launching his own independent bid, deeming it a futile effort.
"If I don't win the primary, that's it," he said to New Hampshire voters in September. "I learned eight years ago that you may feel bad for a while, but the next morning the sun will rise, and you can still find ways to make a difference in your country."
This story has been revised with more information.
CNNs Jamie Gangel and Ethan Cohen contributed to this story.
