Midterms 2026 · Report · File No. 261106-642
Christie weighs 2028 run, says 'Trump era is over' after GOP midterm losses
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, says he is considering a third run for president. He also says his party must move past Trump after its midterm losses.
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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, says he is considering a run for the White House in 2028. He is telling his party to go in "a completely different direction" after its sizable midterm losses 1.
Christie made the remarks in an interview with Politico on Wednesday, The Hill reported. He said he would decide "in the next few months" 1.
A pointed message to Trump's party
The Trump era is over
Christie has run for president twice. He said he sees himself as better placed than other prominent Republicans because he has criticized President Trump throughout Trump's second term 1.
He singled out Vice President JD Vance, who has publicly backed the Iran war. Vance posted that the war caused GOP losses. Christie said Vance has been in the White House for two years and has not said anything negative until this past Wednesday. He said Vance limited his criticism to the Iran war, "which is not the only problem we have here" 1.
From Channel GOPAds called Vivek a murderer, used the President's familyJD Vance · 177 plays · captioned, with the source named
The vice president to me has no credibility.
Christie also took aim at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis is usually a Trump ally, but he described the midterms as a rebuke of the president. Christie said DeSantis is getting ready to leave office and is looking for a way to stay relevant 1.
Not a new position
Christie's message is consistent. In his 2024 campaign, he urged the party to move on from Trump instead of nominating him again. After he ended that campaign, he did not endorse a candidate 1.
On Sept. 22, at a gambling-policy conference in New Hampshire, Christie said the November midterms could show whether Republicans are ready to move away from Trump's dominance of the party. He said then: "Donald Trump is not good for our party and not good for our country." He added that a third run would need a credible path to the nomination 2.
The Republican field is already stirring
Other Republicans are also giving their own explanations for the losses. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas criticized their party and urged it to focus more on the cost of living. Democrats swept the statewide races in their home state on Tuesday 1.
Cruz is also a previous presidential candidate and is considered a possible 2028 contender 1. Candidates could announce in the coming weeks or months 1.
That matters because heavy losses, together with the president's unpopularity, could lead the party to move away from Trump in the 2028 primaries, The Hill reported 1. Christie has not said he will run, and he has not shown he has a base of support. For now, his comments show a Republican who is willing to say aloud what others are saying more quietly.
What happens next is Christie's decision, which he says is months away. Any other Republican who wants to run will also have to say how they differ from Trump. Voters who watched this week's results will be listening.
The Record
- During his 2024 campaign, Christie urged Republicans to move on from Trump and did not endorse a candidate after he ended his bid 1.
- Christie told a New Hampshire conference that Trump is 'not good for our party and not good for our country' and that he is weighing a third run 2.
- In an interview with Politico, Christie said he is considering a 2028 run and that 'The Trump era is over' 1.
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Sources
- The Hill, “Christie mulling White House bid, says 'Trump era is over'” (2026-11-06). thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6204997-chris-christie-2028-pr
- New Jersey Globe, “Christie considering third presidential bid in 2028” (2026-09-22). newjerseyglobe.com/presidential-election/christie-considerin
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
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Vance, DeSantis and Cruz blame Iran war and prices for GOP midterm losses
Three Republicans seen as possible 2028 candidates say Trump's Iran war, tariffs and high prices drove the Democratic wins. The finger-pointing shows a party split over who owns the defeat.
DeSantis calls midterms a 'rebuke' of Trump and Congress as Republicans trade blame
Florida's governor says Republican voters stayed home because the party did not deliver, while Texas senators write that the losses were foreseeable. Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress.
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Democrats won Senate seats in five states Donald Trump carried two years ago. Strategists in both parties now ask whether Texas, Ohio and Iowa could be contested in 2028, though many say it is too soon to tell.
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