If you haven’t seen Chris Christie’s name splashed across the headlines lately, there is a very specific reason for that. He’s gone. Or, more accurately, he’s back in the private lane he occupied before the 2024 circus really got moving. Honestly, for a guy who once dominated the national conversation by yelling at teachers or hugging Jerry Jones, his exit from the political stage was remarkably abrupt.
The big "what happened" moment hit on January 10, 2024. That night in Windham, New Hampshire, Christie looked at the numbers and realized the math just didn't work. He dropped out of the race. No fanfare, really—just a blunt admission that there was no path to the nomination.
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The Night Chris Christie Dropped Out
He was always a long shot. Everyone knew it. His entire 2024 campaign was built on one single, solitary pillar: stopping Donald Trump. It was a "suicide mission" of sorts, where he wasn't really running to win as much as he was running to be a wrecking ball. But by the time the Iowa caucuses were looming, the "wrecking ball" was mostly just hitting a wall.
Remember that "hot mic" moment? It’s probably the most "Chris Christie" thing to ever happen. Right before he went on stage to suspend his campaign, he was caught on a live feed saying Nikki Haley was "going to get smoked." He also mentioned Ron DeSantis was "petrified."
It was vintage Christie. Direct, kinda mean, and arguably true.
He didn't endorse anyone when he left. That was a huge deal at the time. Usually, when a candidate drops, they fall in line to try and secure a Cabinet spot or a VP nod. Not Christie. He’d already been down that road in 2016, and he clearly wasn't interested in a sequel. He basically told his supporters that if he couldn't win, he wasn't going to help people who weren't willing to call out Trump as directly as he did.
What is Chris Christie doing now in 2026?
Fast forward to 2026, and the former Governor of New Jersey has settled back into a life that looks a lot like his "between-elections" years. He isn't exactly hurting for work. He is back at ABC News as a senior political and legal contributor. If you turn on This Week on a Sunday morning, there’s a decent chance you’ll see him there, leaning into a microphone and telling someone why they’re wrong.
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He also runs the Christie Law Firm and Christie 55 Solutions. These aren't just vanity projects; he does serious lobbying and consulting. In late 2025, he was even spotted speaking at energy policy forums in New Jersey, giving advice on how the state should handle affordability issues.
It’s a weird spot to be in. He’s an elder statesman who isn't really welcome at the family reunion.
The New Book and the Legacy
In early 2024, right after he dropped out, he released a book called What Would Reagan Do?. It was his attempt to remind the Republican Party of its roots, but let’s be real—the party has moved so far from the 1980s that it felt more like a history lesson than a roadmap.
People often ask if he’s going to run again. Never say never in politics, but the bridge-burning he did in 2024 wasn't just a fire; it was a controlled demolition. He is currently serving on various boards, including the New York Mets (thanks to his friendship with Steve Cohen) and several pharmaceutical companies.
Why Chris Christie couldn't win the GOP over
The reality of what happened to Chris Christie is that he became a man without a country. To the MAGA base, he was a traitor who turned on Trump after helping him in 2016. To the Never-Trumpers, he was the guy who helped Trump get elected in the first place by endorsing him early.
You can't win a primary when both sides of the party are side-eyeing you.
He finished his governorship with approval ratings in the teens. That’s hard to come back from. Even in 2021, three years after leaving office, a Monmouth University poll showed 64% of New Jersey residents still viewed him unfavorably. That's his home turf! If you can't win over your neighbors, winning over Iowa is a tall order.
Actionable Insights for Political Observers
If you're following the trajectory of Christie's career to understand where the GOP is heading, here are the key takeaways:
- The "Truth-Teller" Brand has a Ceiling: Christie’s "Tell It Like It Is" slogan works for a niche, but in modern primaries, voters often prefer "Tell It Like I Want to Hear It."
- Early Endorsements Stick Forever: Christie’s 2016 endorsement of Trump defined his 2024 failure. In politics, your past "allies of convenience" often become your future "unshakable burdens."
- Media is the New Retirement: For high-profile politicians who can't win elections anymore, the path to influence (and a steady paycheck) is almost always through a contributor contract at a major network.
- Consulting is Where the Power Stays: Even without an office, Christie’s "Christie 55 Solutions" allows him to influence state policy behind the scenes.
Christie hasn't disappeared; he’s just changed the venue. He went from the guy on the stage to the guy in the green room. He seems perfectly happy being the loudest voice in the room, even if it's no longer the Situation Room.