Chris Christie is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. A Republican, he previously served as the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey (2002-2008) and as a Morris County commissioner (1995-1997). Christie has run for the Republican presidential nomination twice, in 2016 and 2024. Known for his direct and often confrontational style, his tenure as governor was marked by both successes, such as pension reform, and controversies, including the "Bridgegate" scandal.
Since the 1947 state constitution, the New Jersey Supreme Court maintained a political balance.
On September 6, 1962, Christopher James Christie was born.
After the 1967 Newark riots, Christie's family moved to Livingston, New Jersey.
In 1984, Chris Christie graduated from the University of Delaware.
In 1986, Chris Christie married Mary Pat Foster, a fellow student at the University of Delaware.
In December 1987, Chris Christie was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar Association.
In 1992, Chris Christie volunteered for the re-election campaign of President George H. W. Bush in New Jersey.
In 1993, Chris Christie was named a partner in the law firm of Dughi, Hewit & Palatucci.
In 1993, Chris Christie's son, Andrew, was born.
In 1994, Chris Christie was elected as a Republican to the Board of Chosen Freeholders for Morris County, New Jersey.
In 1994, Chris Christie was elected as a county freeholder for Morris County, New Jersey.
In 1995, Chris Christie announced a bid for a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly.
In 1996, Chris Christie's daughter, Sarah, was born.
In 1996, section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act was enacted, which Christie has been critical about.
During the 2000 United States presidential election, Chris Christie served as George W. Bush's campaign lawyer for the state of New Jersey.
In 2000, Chris Christie's son, Patrick, was born.
On December 7, 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Chris Christie the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
In 2001, Mary Pat Christie left Cantor Fitzgerald following the September 11 attacks.
In July 2002, Chris Christie was involved in a traffic accident that injured a motorcyclist in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
In 2002, as U.S. Attorney, Chris Christie's office convicted Robert C. Janiszewski, the Democratic Hudson County Executive, on bribery charges.
In 2003, Chris Christie's daughter, Bridget, was born.
In April 2005, British trader Hemant Lakhani was convicted by jury of attempting to provide material support to terrorists.
In 2005, Chris Christie negotiated a plea agreement with Charles Kushner, who pleaded guilty to multiple counts including illegal campaign contributions and tax evasion.
In 2005, Chris Christie negotiated seven deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) during his tenure as U.S. Attorney.
In 2006, Christie issued a subpoena regarding Robert Menendez 65 days before the Senate election.
In 2006, as U.S. Attorney, Chris Christie's office convicted former Democratic New Jersey Senate President John A. Lynch Jr., on charges of mail fraud and tax evasion.
In 2007, Chris Christie prosecuted the planners of the averted 2007 Fort Dix attack plot, which he has frequently mentioned as a career highlight.
On December 1, 2008, Chris Christie's tenure as U.S. Attorney came to an end.
In 2008, as U.S. Attorney, Chris Christie's office convicted State Senator and former Newark Democratic mayor Sharpe James and Democratic State Senator Wayne R. Bryant on fraud and bribery charges respectively.
In the years after the 2008 recession Christie noted a need for increased state revenue, and in February 2013, online gambling was legalized in New Jersey.
On January 8, 2009, Chris Christie filed as a candidate for the office of governor.
In September 2009, the July 2002 traffic accident involving Chris Christie came to light while he was running for governor.
In 2009 when announcing his candidacy, Christie stated he supported aggressive enforcement of New Jersey's current gun laws.
In 2009, Christie identified himself as anti-abortion, but stated he would not force his views on others, while still supporting certain restrictions.
In 2009, Christie indicated he would veto any bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New Jersey, stating marriage should be exclusively between one man and one woman.
In 2009, Jon Corzine's administration attempted to settle with Exxon Mobil for $550 million before a ruling that strengthened the state's bargaining position.
On January 19, 2010, Chris Christie took office as Governor of New Jersey.
In February 2010, Christie signed an executive order declaring a "state of fiscal emergency" due to the projected $2.2 billion budget deficit for that fiscal year.
In March 2010, Christie signed into law three state pension reform bills, which had passed with bipartisan support.
In May 2010, Christie chose not to renominate Justice John E. Wallace Jr., breaking with the tradition of political balance in the New Jersey Supreme Court.
In August 2010, Chris Christie signed legislation to encourage the development of wind power in New Jersey at the Port of Paulsboro.
On August 25, 2010, it was announced that New Jersey would not receive $400 million in federal Race to the Top education grants due to a clerical error.
In December 2010, Christie commuted the seven-year sentence of Brian Aitken, who had been convicted of transporting three guns within the state.
In 2010, Christie cancelled the Access to the Region's Core project, citing escalating costs, which would have constructed new tunnels under the Hudson River.
In January 2011, the Christie administration approved 23 new charter schools, including New Jersey's first independent school for children with autism.
On May 26, 2011, Chris Christie announced he would pull the state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
In June 2011, Christie announced a deal with the Democratic leadership of the legislature on a reform of public employee pensions and benefits.
In late June 2011, Christie utilized New Jersey's line-item veto to eliminate nearly $1 billion from the proposed budget.
In late June but signed on July 1, 2011, Christie utilized New Jersey's line-item veto to eliminate nearly $1 billion from the proposed budget, signing it into law just hours prior to July 1, 2011, the beginning of the state's fiscal year.
On October 5, 2011, the investigation of Robert Menendez, which started before Christie left office as U.S. Attorney, was finally cleared.
In 2011, shortly after the cancellation of the Access to the Region's Core project, Amtrak's Gateway Project was unveiled.
On February 17, 2012, Christie vetoed a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage in New Jersey, proposing a statewide ballot referendum instead.
In April 2012, Chris Christie traveled to Israel on a trade mission, meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, and commenting on Jerusalem's status under Israeli control.
On August 6, 2012, Christie signed a law reforming the tenure system for New Jersey public-school teachers.
In August 2012, Chris Christie delivered the keynote address at the Republican National Convention.
On September 21, 2012, Christie signed Assembly Bill No. 2647 into law, requiring employers to post notice of employees' rights to gender-equal pay, but conditionally vetoed other gender parity bills.
On October 30, 2012, during a press conference about Hurricane Sandy, Chris Christie praised President Barack Obama's disaster relief efforts.
In November 2012, Christie filed papers to run for a second term as Governor of New Jersey.
On December 28, 2012, the U.S. Senate approved a $60.4 billion disaster relief package for Hurricane Sandy, which impacted New Jersey and other states.
In 2012, Christie received a B grade from the Cato Institute in their biennial fiscal policy report on America's governors.
In January 2013, Christie vetoed a bill from the New Jersey Legislature that would have raised the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 per hour.
In February 2013, Chris Christie underwent lap-band stomach surgery to address concerns about his weight and health.
In February 2013, online gambling was legalized in New Jersey after the state's Legislature passed Bill A2578, which was later signed into law by Christie.
On March 6, 2013, the Christie administration released proposed regulations to overhaul the process of evaluating public-school teachers.
In June 2013, Christie signed a $33 billion state budget that makes a record $1.7 billion payment to the state's pension fund and also increases school funding by almost $100 million.
In June 2013, Christie vetoed S1921, an animal welfare bill introduced by the Humane Society of the United States to prohibit the use of gestation crates on pregnant pigs in the state, despite its wide support in the General Assembly and the Senate.
On August 19, 2013, Christie signed a bill outlawing gay conversion therapy for children, making New Jersey the second state to institute such a law.
On September 13, 2013, the traffic lanes accessing the George Washington Bridge from Fort Lee, NJ, that had been closed for five days, were reopened after causing massive traffic congestion.
On September 18, 2013, Christie signed legislation to overhaul the state's business tax incentive programs.
On October 18, 2013, the state supreme court denied the Christie administration's request for a stay of the decision mandating equal protection for same-sex couples.
On November 5, 2013, Christie was reelected as Governor of New Jersey by a large margin, defeating Barbara Buono.
In November 2013, Chris Christie was elected chairman of the Republican Governors Association, succeeding Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.
In December 2013, Christie signed legislation allowing unauthorized immigrants who attend high school for at least three years in New Jersey and graduate to be eligible for resident rates at state colleges, universities, and community colleges.
In 2013, Christie chose not to defend a legal challenge to a New Jersey law requiring individuals to prove an urgent threat of violence before getting permits to carry handguns.
In 2013, Christie signed a bill to more easily allow the use of medical cannabis by children in New Jersey.
On February 3, 2014, Chris Christie stated he had no prior knowledge or involvement in the George Washington Bridge lane closures, claiming he first learned of the traffic jams from The Wall Street Journal.
In March 2014, the court ruled that Christie had acted illegally in pulling the state out of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
In May 2014, Christie cut the contributions to New Jersey public workers' pension funds for a 14-month period by nearly $2.5 billion to deal with a revenue shortfall in the state budget.
In July 2014, Christie vetoed legislation that would have reduced the allowed legal size of ammunition magazines and proposed a new standard for involuntary commitment of people with mental illness.
In September 2014, Christie signed a partnership with Mexico on a higher-education project to foster economic cooperation.
In September 2014, a panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law banning gay conversion therapy in New Jersey.
On September 18, 2014, WNBC reported that unnamed federal sources said the US attorney investigation had found no evidence that Christie had prior knowledge of or directed the closures.
In October 2014, Christie signed a bill to legalize sports betting in New Jersey.
In October 2014, a similar bill banning gestation crates, S998, was proposed and passed in the Senate and Assembly.
On November 27, 2014, Christie vetoed a bill banning gestation crates, after indicating he would do so while campaigning in Iowa.
In December 2014, an interim report by the New Jersey legislative committee investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closures was released, but it was unable to determine if Christie had advance knowledge.
In 2014, Chris Christie rejected permanent bans on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in New Jersey and vetoed measures that would ban the process and disposal of hydraulic fracturing waste in the State.
In 2014, Christie authorized the increase of numerous other fees charged by the state for various licensing and administrative fees.
In 2014, Christie received a B grade from the Cato Institute in their biennial fiscal policy report on America's governors.
In 2014, while campaigning in Alabama, Christie stated he was the first "pro-life governor" elected in New Jersey since Roe v. Wade in 1973 and mentioned vetoing Planned Parenthood funding five times.
In March 2015, Christie joined other potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates in endorsing a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
As of April 2015 Mary Pat Christie was a managing director at the Wall Street investment firm Angelo, Gordon & Co.
On May 1, 2015, U.S. attorney Paul J. Fishman announced that his office would not bring any more charges in the "Bridgegate" case based on available evidence.
On June 27, 2015, Chris Christie launched his website as a formal step toward a presidential candidacy.
On June 30, 2015, Chris Christie announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.
In July 2015, Christie vetoed a bill requiring individuals seeking to expunge their mental health records to notify law enforcement when petitioning the court to purchase a firearm.
In October 2015, the New Jersey Senate voted to override Christie's veto.
On February 10, 2016, Chris Christie dropped out of the presidential race after a poor showing and low poll numbers in the New Hampshire primary, where he received 7.4% of the overall vote.
Despite previously criticizing Donald Trump, on February 26, 2016, Chris Christie endorsed Trump for president.
On May 9, 2016, Donald Trump appointed Chris Christie to head his transition team in anticipation of a potential Trump presidency, leading to Christie becoming a major figure in the Trump campaign.
In September 2016, Chris Christie acknowledged that the Fort Lee lane closure scandal, also known as Bridgegate, played a role in his being denied the nomination.
In September 2016, federal prosecutors in the trial of two New Jersey government officials over their involvement in "Bridgegate" said that a defendant and a witness boasted about their actions to the governor at the time.
On October 13, 2016, a complaint of official misconduct was allowed to proceed, alleging that Christie knew about the George Washington Bridge lane closures while they were ongoing but failed to act.
On November 4, 2016, former top Christie aides Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly were convicted on all charges in the George Washington Bridge lane closure trial.
During the 2016 campaign and thereafter, Christie focused on attacking Trump, including at his campaign launch.
In 2016, Chris Christie and other presidential candidates endorsed a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
In January 2017, Bergen County prosecutors announced they would not seek criminal charges against Christie in connection with the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal.
In February 2017, Chris Christie reportedly turned down the role of Secretary of Labor.
In March 2017, Bill Baroni was sentenced to two years in prison and Bridget Anne Kelly to 18 months in prison for their involvement in the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal.
In March 2017, Donald Trump selected Chris Christie to chair the Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission.
In July 2017, during a budget shutdown, Governor Chris Christie and his family were photographed vacationing on a beach closed to the public at Island Beach State Park, drawing criticism.
In 2017, Chris Christie's school funding proposal was described by education researchers as "one of the least equitable in the country".
In 2017, Christie conditionally vetoed a bill that would have banned child marriages in New Jersey, suggesting a complete ban for those under 16 and judicial approval for those aged 16 and 17.
In January 2018, Chris Christie joined ABC News as a regular network contributor.
In January 2018, Chris Christie's term as governor of New Jersey concluded.
In January 2018, during his final days as Governor of New Jersey, Christie signed legislation making bump stocks illegal in the state.
On January 16, 2018, Chris Christie left office as Governor of New Jersey with low approval ratings.
In May 2018, Christie's handling of office records and denial of access to electronic records related to Jared Kushner's business dealings came under scrutiny, following his departure from office.
In November 2018, Chris Christie was considered for the role of United States Attorney General by the Trump administration.
In December 2018, Chris Christie declined consideration for the job of White House Chief of Staff.
In 2018 Christie started a federal lobbying firm called Christie 55 Solutions.
In 2018, Chris Christie's term as Governor of New Jersey expired.
In 2018, Christie changed his position on the federal enforcement of marijuana laws, stating that while he still personally opposes legalization, he believes the states have the right to legalize it.
In 2018, after Christie left office, New Jersey became the second state in the Union to prohibit marriage for everyone under the age of majority.
In January 2019, Chris Christie published his book, "Let Me Finish".
In May 2019, Chris Christie joined WeRecover, a tech firm, as Senior Advisor on Strategy and Public Policy.
In June 2019, an 18-page report was released outlining questions and potential concerns regarding Chris Christie joining the Trump administration.
On May 7, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the convictions of Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly in the Bridgegate scandal.
In May 2020, Chris Christie stated that measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States should be lifted for economic reasons.
On September 29, 2020, Chris Christie helped President Trump prepare for his first debate with Joe Biden, participating in prep sessions at the White House without facial coverings despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
On October 3, 2020, Chris Christie tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey due to his asthma.
In December 2020, Chris Christie told Hugh Hewitt that he was considering running for president in 2024, even if Donald Trump decided to run.
In 2020, after Democrat Phil Murphy became governor, the millionaire tax was eventually passed into law.
After the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Chris Christie distanced himself from Donald Trump.
In March 2021, Chris Christie joined the board of directors of the New York Mets front office.
On September 9, 2021, Chris Christie delivered a speech at the Ronald Reagan Library, imploring Republicans to reject extreme elements like QAnon and election fraud conspiracy theorists.
By 2021, the Governor pledged to ban coal-fired power plants, and to reach 22.5% renewable generation in the state.
In 2021, Chris Christie's book, "Republican Rescue", was released, in which he recounts his experience with COVID-19 and a call from Donald Trump during his hospitalization.
In 2021, Christie's federal lobbying firm, Christie 55 Solutions, ceased its operations.
In October 2022, Chris Christie expressed openness to a potential 2024 presidential bid while appearing on Real Time with Bill Maher.
On March 16, 2023, Chris Christie announced he would decide within 45 to 60 days whether to run for president, during which time he criticized Ron DeSantis.
On May 31, 2023, it was reported that Chris Christie was planning to announce his presidential campaign in the coming days.
In June 2023, it was reported that Chris Christie would remain on the board of directors of the New York Mets while running for president.
On August 4, 2023, Chris Christie made an unannounced trip to Ukraine, visiting Bucha and meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to express his support.
Construction began in 2023 for Amtrak's Gateway Project.
Earlier in 2023, Christie predicted Trump would be convicted in at least one of his trials by spring 2024, and called him unqualified for the presidency.
In 2023, Christie stated he believed that abortion should be a state-by-state issue and opposed a federal ban on abortion.
On January 10, 2024, Chris Christie dropped out of the presidential race at a town hall meeting in Windham, stressing his decision was made to prevent vote splitting and ensure Trump did not win the primary.
On April 4, 2024, No Labels officially abandoned its attempt to run a "unity ticket" after being unable to find a suitable candidate, of which Christie was one of the finalists.
In May 2024, Donald Trump was ultimately convicted in his New York hush money trial.
During his 2024 campaign, Christie stated that he opposes Republican-proposed bans on gender affirming care for minors, supporting parental involvement instead.
In 2024, Christie began teaching a course at Yale University.
In 2024, after announcing his candidacy for the Republican presidential primaries, Christie's campaign said that the former governor currently "respects same-sex marriage and considers it legally settled."
In December 2020, Christie considered running for president in 2024.
In 2025, Christie endorsed State Senator Jon Bramnick in the gubernatorial election.