As June Ends, Chris Christie Joins 2016 Republican Field

June 29, 2015

New Jersey governor Chris Christie will join a crowded 2016 Republican field as he announces his candidacy for president tomorrow in Livingston, NJ. His campaign website is already live. 

Christie will be the 14th Republican to formally announce. He is averaging about 4% in the 270toWin polling average, well back of the leaders, but within the top 10 that would qualify for the first Republican debate in August.

Ohio governor John Kasich is expected to join the field on July 21. No formal date has been announced for Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, but a July 13 date has been rumored. Once these two join the campaign, the field of major Republican contenders may be set at 16.. That number will likely decrease quickly after the first primaries and caucuses next winter.

2016 Republican Field: Running or Actively Considering

Dates displayed are those when campaign launched or when an announcement is scheduled. The MAP link, where available, goes to an electoral map of that candidate vs. Hillary Clinton based on state-level polling conducted so far.

Names in bold are in the top 10 of the 270toWin polling average. (Fox and CNN, hosts of the first two debates, have announced that qualification will be based on top 10 standings in the polls, based on the respective networks' calculations prior to the debate. CNN will include a separate forum for those that don't make the top 10.

Announced

Pending Decision (Almost definitely running)

No Announcement Date Set 

Other possible (although unlikely) entrants include former Maryland governor Bob Ehrlich, former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore, and Rep. Peter King of New York.