Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie on Wednesday announced that he would suspend his long-shot bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, clearing a wider lane in New Hampshire for former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley as calls to exit the race and consolidate support behind an anti-Trump alternative grew stronger.
Launching his presidential campaign in June, Christie positioned himself as the only candidate directly making the argument that former president Donald Trump is unfit for office. But in recent weeks, Christie had faced increasing pressure among Republicans and donors who do not support Trump to drop out, including New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who endorsed Haley. Sununu, a longtime friend of Christie’s, told reporters in Rye, N.H., last week that Christie had a chance to “be the hero” and swing the state in Haley’s favor.
His departure from the Republican field adds new fluidity to a contest long dominated by Trump that has featured little drama or change. It brings anti-Trump forces closer to the prospect of consolidating support against him, but with little assurance that will be enough to stop him with the first nominating contests set to being this month.
Advertisement
“I’ve always said that there came a point in time in this race where I couldn’t see a path to accomplishing that goal that I would get out,” Christie said speaking at a previously scheduled town hall in Windham, N.H. “And it’s 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.”
Christie has not had conversations with Haley about his decision, and he came to the conclusion that he would not be able to win, according to one person with direct knowledge who spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity to disclose private discussions. This person said Christie feels that people have to see on their own that Haley won’t be able to defeat Trump, and that he does not want to be blamed for being a spoiler in the race.
Moments before his town hall began, Christie was caught on a hot mic during his campaign’s livestream. During the conversation, he appeared to make a reference to Haley, saying that “she’s going to get smoked” and that “she’s not up to this.” The former governor also said that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis “called me, petrified.”
Advertisement
Haley noted the end of his campaign in a statement and made no mention of the audio mishap. “Chris Christie has been a friend for many years,” Haley’s campaign released in a statement. “I commend him on a hard-fought campaign.”
DeSantis and Trump acknowledged his departure on social media, with Trump posting on Truth Social that Christie’s criticism of his rivals was “very truthful” and DeSantis tweeting on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I agree with Christie that Nikki Haley is ‘going to get smoked.’”
End of carouselDeSantis called Christie, a person familiar with the conversation confirmed after Christie was caught on the hot mic. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private conversation. Christie ridiculed Haley on the call with DeSantis, according to the person familiar with the conversation. DeSantis expressed gratitude for Christie’s role in the race no matter his decision, they said, as first reported by NBC News.
Advertisement
Christie’s exit from the race is welcome news for Haley and her supporters — particularly in New Hampshire. The two former governors had been battling for the same pool of undeclared voters and those opposed to Trump. But he and his allies have pushed back against the idea that his supporters will automatically move to support Haley if he were to drop out. He has sharply criticized Haley, accusing her of trying to be all things to all people and hitting her for refusing to rule out serving as Trump’s running mate.
If his supporters do turn to Haley, it would help her close the gap with Trump. A CNN poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire released Tuesday found Trump leading the state with 39 percent of likely GOP primary voters, followed by Haley at 32 percent. Christie received 12 percent support in the poll.
Christie, 61, portrayed himself on the campaign trail as a straight-talking truth-teller and had hoped to lift his campaign with breakout moments during the GOP primary debates — but Trump ultimately declined to appear on the debate stage.
Advertisement
The brash former governor placed less of a focus on culture war issues favored by Republican candidates in recent years and staked out some stances that were more moderate than his fellow 2024 candidates.
He called for continuing U.S. aid to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian attacks. In the second GOP debate, Christie said migrants who came into the United States illegally would be apprehended and sent “back across the border from which you came.”
Christie notably opposed a federal abortion ban.
“I’ve always been pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother,” Christie said in an emailed statement to The Post. “I believe these are decisions that should be made by governors, state legislatures and their citizens at the state level. The states, not the federal government, should be making these decisions.”
Advertisement
But the heart of Christie’s campaign was always his criticism of Trump. When candidates at the first debate were asked whether they would support Trump if he were convicted of any of the 91 counts he faces in four criminal cases against him, Christie indicated that he would not. “Someone has got to stop normalizing this conduct,” he said, which drew applause and boos from the audience. The booing, Christie said, “doesn’t change the truth.”
Christie’s positioning in the 2024 campaign stood in stark contrast to Christie and Trump’s previous political relationship. The two East Coast Republicans with reputations for generating viral moments had, at one point, been politically aligned.
During the 2016 campaign, Christie finished sixth in New Hampshire’s GOP primary, dropped out and endorsed Trump. He even briefly served as the head of Trump’s transition team. Christie was replaced by Trump’s three adult children, and his transition books were thrown into the trash.
Advertisement
Christie later said his ouster was orchestrated in part by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, whose father Christie had prosecuted years earlier. As a result, Christie said Trump tried to govern without having “the very best people in front of him.”
He ratcheted up his criticisms of Trump after the president falsely claimed victory in the 2020 election, and he escalated the condemnation further after a mob of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol while Congress was certifying Joe Biden’s victory on Jan. 6, 2021. That night, Christie told ABC News that Trump “violated his oath” and “betrayed the American people.”
In his speech, Christie went on to slam his rivals for not directly claiming that Trump is unfit for office and their willingness to pardon Trump. He acknowledged that he “let the ambition get ahead” in his 2016 decision to drop out of the race and endorse the ex-president as one he would not make again.
Advertisement
“I can see it from some of the faces here, that I’m disappointing some people by doing this, people who believe in our message and believe in what we’ve been doing,” he said. “I also know, though, it’s the right thing for me to do because I want to promise you this I am going to make sure that in no way to I enable Donald Trump ever be president of the United States again.”
Hannah Knowles contributed to this report.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZL2wuMitoJyrX2d9c4COaWhoaWBksKm%2ByKxknKCinsC1tcRmm6unoKh6sMHTZmlpamRk