Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is expected to end his struggling 2024 presidential campaign, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday evening.
Christie, whose campaign centered on thwarting Donald Trump’s bid for the Republican nomination, is set to make the announcement during a town hall in New Hampshire late Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the dynamics of the Republican primary race.
His departure is expected to bolster the campaigns of the two most prominent candidates running as alternatives to Trump: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. Haley backers in particular have publicly urged Christie to drop out, believing it would benefit her campaign the most.
DeSantis and Haley are scheduled to participate in a CNN debate in Iowa later Wednesday evening, as they vie for support in the critical state before the state’s Republican caucus on Jan. 15.
This marks Christie’s second attempt at securing the nation’s highest office, following his 2016 bid where he suspended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump. Christie played a pivotal role in Trump’s transition team and served as an advisor during his term. Over term, he became one of Trump’s most vocal critics within the GOP, and has said he regrets endorsing him eight years earlier.