Former Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie hinted at a potential run on a third-party ticket with the political organization No Labels, provided they found a Democratic running mate for him, according to a report by The Chicago Sun-Times.
Dan Webb, the lawyer overseeing the vetting process for No Labels’ candidates, revealed that Christie expressed willingness to lead a bipartisan “unity ticket” to counter Donald Trump, but only if paired with a Democratic vice presidential candidate.
Despite Christie’s openness, No Labels struggled to find a Democrat willing to join the ticket, leading to the initiative’s collapse. “Chris was ready to run with one condition,” Webb explained, highlighting the challenges of forming a bipartisan ticket in the current polarized political climate.
Christie, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, suspended his own presidential campaign earlier this year and has publicly committed to preventing Trump’s reelection.
“I’m going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be President of the United States again, and that’s more important than my own personal ambition,” Christie stated during his campaign suspension.
In late March, despite speculations of joining No Labels, Christie confirmed he would not pursue a third-party candidacy without a clear path to victory and out of concern that it might inadvertently aid Trump’s campaign.
His decision underscores the problems and strategic calculations involved in third-party runs, especially in a highly divided electoral environment.