Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is contemplating a third campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. He stated that the outcomes of the upcoming midterm elections could influence his decision, as the Republican Party is still largely influenced by President Donald Trump. Christie made these comments during an appearance at the Granite State Summit on Responsible Gaming in New Hampshire, as reported by WMUR Political Director Adam Sexton.
Christie, who previously ran for president in 2016 and 2024 without success, indicated that significant losses for Republicans in the midterms could lead the party to reassess its direction. He expressed concerns about Trump's impact on the party and the country, stating, "I came up here and said Donald Trump is not good for our party and not good for our country. And it’s going to hurt our country both here and around the world if we send him back to the White House."
He suggested that the midterm results could reveal whether Republican voters are open to a different approach. Christie remarked, "For our party’s sake, if we do a lot of losing six weeks from today, I wonder whether we’re going to say, ‘Okay, we need to change this approach...’"
When asked about his potential candidacy, Christie acknowledged that anyone who has run for president and not won is likely still considering it. He noted, "Once you go through the thought process of convincing yourself that you can be president... that doesn’t leave your brain."
However, he emphasized that a third campaign would require a credible path to the nomination, something he felt was lacking in his previous attempts. Christie concluded his 2024 campaign shortly before the Iowa caucuses, stating, "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 of the United States."
His second presidential campaign focused on opposing Trump, a shift from his earlier endorsement of Trump in 2016 after dropping out of that race. Christie has since expressed regret over that endorsement and has made it a priority to prevent Trump from becoming president again.
Christie, who is 64 years old, served as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey from 2002 to 2008 and as governor from 2010 to 2018. If he were to win the nomination in 2028, he would join the ranks of other candidates who have successfully secured a major party nomination on their third attempt, including Ronald Reagan and Joe Biden.