Chris Christie.Photo: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty
Chris Christieis mulling a 2024 presidential bid, according to a new report.
The 58-year-old former New Jersey governor is “seriously considering” running for the Republican nomination in three years, sourcestold the political news website Axios, which cites three people familiar with his plans.
A spokesperson for Christie did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment Wednesday.
In December, Christietoldradio host Hugh Hewitt he “would not” rule out the possibility of running again for the presidency.
He has most recently been working as a political commentator on ABC News after leaving public office in 2018.
Christie mounted an unsuccessful 2016 presidential run before bowing out early in the race and becoming one of the first prominent politicians to endorse the election’s eventual winner,Donald Trump.
The New Jersey native led Trump’s transition team into the White House in late 2016 and early 2017, but henever tookan official role in the administration.
Christie remained in Trump’s orbit, however, and became an adviser on the latter’s 2020 campaign.
From left: Jared Kushner, Chris Christie and Donald Trump in 2017.Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty
Hewas hospitalized with COVID-19shortly after helping Trump, 74, prepare for the first presidential debate last fall.
Christie subsequently broke from Trump after Trump refused to concede his election loss to Biden, 78. Christie called his legal challenges over the results and his conspiratorial claims about the loss a “national embarrassment.”
For his part, Trump has also repeatedly teased a 2024 run, while Biden has already said he plans to run again for a second term.
According to Axios, Christie says his decision doesn’t hinge on whatever Trump decides.
Axios reported that Christie believes he would stand out among Republican candidates and “has told friends that he’d be the only person in the 2024 field with executive experience who has run a presidential race before.”
Former Vice PresidentMike Penceis widely speculated to also mount a 2024 run, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are also all among the current or former elected officials who are considered potential candidates.
source: people.com
