Chris Christie on Monday signaled plans to run again for governor of New Jersey in 2013 by filing paperwork allowing him to start raising money for the race.
The feisty Republican will file papers with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission Nov. 26, according to the political blog Yellowhammer Politics.
While Christie has been expected to run for re-election, he hasn’t made his intentions concretely clear. In an email shared with The Daily Caller, a source close to Christie says a formal announcement and campaign launch will be in January.
Christie’s decision will be closely watched since many political observers see him as a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2016. Another win by Christie in the blue state could bolster his argument that he knows how to win over the support of Democrats.
Since his election to governorship of the Garden State in 2009, Christie has established himself as one of the GOP’s rising stars. He was encouraged to run for president this year, but opted against it and instead became a top surrogate for Mitt Romney’s campaign. Christie reportedly was under consideration to be Romney’s running mate.
But he has also irked Republicans, most recently by his effusive praise for President Obama after the federal government’s response to Hurricane Sandy during the days preceding the presidential election. Some Republicans said Christie’s praise likely helped Obama win a second term. Christie says he was doing just his job as governor.
It’s not yet clear who will enter the gubernatorial race from the Democratic Party, but Newark Mayor Cory Booker is among a handful of Democrats thought to be entertaining a run.