Chris Christie, the larger-than-life former governor of New Jersey, has spent recent years positioning himself as the GOP’s moral compass, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and a self-styled champion of Republican “principles.” But before he took to the national stage as Trump’s most outspoken rival, Christie was the Republican leader whose legacy arguably cracked the foundation of his own party in New Jersey, setting the stage for eight years of Democratic dominance under Phil Murphy.
Christie’s fall from grace as governor wasn’t just a political stumble—it was a complete faceplant. From the Bridgegate scandal, which painted his administration as vindictive and petty, to his unapologetically abrasive style, Christie’s approval ratings cratered in his second term. By the time he left office in 2018, his approval rating was a shocking 15%, one of the lowest in the country.
This collapse in public trust had a ripple effect. When his lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, ran to succeed him in 2017, she was weighed down by Christie’s baggage. Guadagno tried to carve out her own identity, focusing on property tax relief and distancing herself from the more controversial aspects of Christie’s tenure. But her efforts weren’t enough. The shadow of Christie’s governorship loomed large, and voters, still smarting from years of scandals and the governor’s failed 2016 presidential bid, couldn’t separate the two. Guadagno’s loss to Democrat Phil Murphy wasn’t just a defeat; it was a decisive rejection of Christie-era Republicanism.
Enter Phil Murphy, the Goldman Sachs executive-turned-politician who campaigned on progressive policies, promising to turn the page on Christie’s tumultuous tenure. Murphy’s success didn’t just mark a Democratic win; it solidified a shift in New Jersey’s political landscape that has left Republicans struggling to reclaim relevance. Christie’s scorched-earth approach had alienated many of the moderate and independent voters who were once key to GOP victories in the state.
And yet, rather than focus on rebuilding his party, Christie has trained his sights on Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans. He’s become a constant presence on the 2024 campaign trail, lambasting Trump for his role in the January 6th Capitol riot and accusing him of hijacking the party. While his critiques of Trump resonate with some anti-Trump conservatives, many others see Christie as the wrong messenger. After all, this is the same man who famously endorsed Trump in 2016, standing by his side in one of the most awkward and meme-worthy moments of political theater.
Christie’s relentless attacks on Trump and other GOP figures have drawn sharp criticism from within his party, with many accusing him of being out of touch with the Republican base. Instead of rallying Republicans in New Jersey, he’s become a polarizing figure, as likely to spar with fellow conservatives as he is with Democrats.
In a twist of political irony, Christie’s legacy may not be defined by his policies or his fiery rhetoric but by the very Democrats he helped empower. Phil Murphy’s two terms and the Democrats’ continued dominance in New Jersey can be traced back to the political vacuum Christie left behind.
For someone who prides himself on being a kingmaker, Christie might need to reckon with the fact that he handed New Jersey’s political crown to the other side.