Chris Christie 2024 presidential campaign
The 2024 presidential campaign of Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, was formally launched on June 6, 2023, at an event in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was seeking the Republican Party nomination in its 2024 presidential primaries.[2] He withdrew from the race on January 10, 2024.[3]
For his 2016 campaign, see Chris Christie 2016 presidential campaign.Chris Christie for President
Chris Christie
55th Governor of New Jersey (2010–2018)
Announced: June 6, 2023
Suspended: January 10, 2024
Because the truth matters[1]
Positions[edit]
A New Jersey Republican, Christie is considered to be a moderate conservative.[47]
In his early political career, Christie opposed same sex marriage and vetoed several bills that would have legalized it in New Jersey while he was governor.[48] His stance on same sex marriage has evolved over time;[49] in 2013 he voiced support for New Jersey's civil union law, which extended to gay couples the same legal benefits of marriage with regards to state law;[50] and in 2022 he said he "respects same-sex marriage and considers it legally settled."[51]
As governor, he refused to legalize marijuana in New Jersey,[52] although his successor, Phil Murphy, legalized marijuana for New Jersey adults in 2021.[53] Christie has said he supports certain gun control measures and accepts the scientific consensus on climate change.[54][55]
Polling[edit]
Christie consistently polled between one percent and six percent throughout his campaign.[56] He dismissed the polls and stated that higher numbers do not necessarily indicate a primary victory.[57]
In the months leading up to his announcement, various media outlets viewed Christie as a likely contender in the Republican primaries, but pre-election polling showed him polling far behind Trump, who had announced his fourth presidential campaign in November 2022.[58]
In an August 7 poll by NH Journal, Christie tied for second place with Ron DeSantis in the primary state of New Hampshire with both at nine percent.[59] An August 17 poll by FiveThirtyEight placed Christie at second place in New Hampshire with 14 percent, only behind Donald Trump, who polled at 34 percent.[60] Christie focused on New Hampshire and hoped to defeat Trump there.[61] When interviewed by Chris Cuomo on September 14, Christie pledged that, if he did not end up "top 4" in the New Hampshire primary, he would drop out of the race.[62]
Christie saw a surge of support among Democratic voters after announcing his candidacy.[63] In a New York Times/Siena College poll in September 2023, 24 percent of Democratic or Democratic leaning voters said they would likely vote for Christie if he became the Republican nominee.[64]
Public perception[edit]
Christie was named among Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2011 and 2013.[65][66]
Approval ratings during Christie's tenure as governor ranged from a record high to a record low.[67] Following Hurricane Sandy and his response to it, various polls indicated his approval rating was near 80 percent.[68][69] It remained above 60 percent until January 2014[70][71][72] and above 50 percent until August 2014.[73][74][75] Christie finished his second term as governor with an approval rating between 19 percent and 22 percent—the lowest for any governor at that time.[67][76][77] In a poll conducted by Monmouth University in late April and early May 2021—three years after Christie left office—64 percent of New Jersey residents viewed Christie unfavorably, while 26 percent viewed him favorably, showing only a slight improvement since he left office.[77] Of those questioned, 19 percent said that he would make a good president, while 59 percent said that he would not.[77]