Chris Christie has dropped out of the race to be the Republican candidate for this year’s presidential election.
The former governor of New Jersey had been flagging in the race and had served under the Donald Trump presidency but took a swipe at his former boss as he withdrew.
The former president remains the front runner, despite facing court indictments. He did not appear in a debate on Monday when candidates Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis clashed.
"It's clear to me tonight that there isn't a path for me to win the nomination,” Mr Christie said on Thursday (January 11).
"My goal has never been to be just a voice against the hate and division and the selfishness of what our party has become under Donald Trump.
“I am 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.”
Mr Christie previously attacked his old employer, calling him “Donald Duck” in a previous televised debate.
He did not endorse anybody as the Republican party gears up for its Iowa caucus – its voting system to choose a candidate for the presidential race.
His exit means there is one fewer name on the sheet for voters to choose from with the state’s votes being cast on Monday. Here who is standing in the red and blue corners.
Democrats
Joe Biden
The incumbent is likely to secure the Democratic Party nomination to run for a second term. He announced his candidacy with the tweet: “Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours.
“That’s why I’m running for re-election as President of the United States. Join us. Let’s finish the job.”
Marianne Williamson
Self-help author Marianne Williamson has also submitted a statement of candidature to the Federal Election Commission to stand for the Democratic Party.
As well as writing 14 bestselling books, she also founded Project Angel Food. This is a volunteer food-delivery programme that supports housebound people with HIV/Aids and life-threatening illnesses, as well as the Peace Alliance, a non-profit education and advocacy organisation.
Republicans
Donald Trump
The 2016 winner, Donald Trump, is looking to return to the White House amid various legal battles. However, donations soared to his campaign after he appeared in court to deny wrongdoing over the Stormy Daniels affair.
He said: “The decline of America is being forced upon us by Biden and the radical left… this is not a decline we must accept.”
Ron De Santis
Ron DeSantis launched his campaign for the Republican nomination with a Twitter video alongside Elon Musk.
Mr DeSantis has recently made headlines after clashing with Disney over its plans to build a new corporate campus in Orlando. He comes to the position as a hard-right campaigner with “anti woke” values and with a record of voting down LGBT, abortion, and gun control policies.
He has previously doubled down on his stance, saying the word ‘woke’ five times in 19 seconds in a previous address.
Nikki Haley
The Republican hopeful is a former US ambassador to the United Nations and was governor of South California from 2011 to 2017.
“I wear heels, but it’s not a fashion statement, it’s because if I see something wrong, I’m gonna kick ’em every single time,” she said in 2017.
Asa Hutchinson
One of the more experienced names in the Republican ranks, the 72-year-old is a former undersecretary of homeland security and administrator of drug enforcement.
He has been a long-time governor of Arkansas.
Vivek Ramaswamy
The writer and businessman, 37, has staunchly conservative views in line with the Republican Party but has not held political office before.
His books have attacked “woke” ideology in America. He has also attacked the notion of “victimhood as a pathway to success”.
Independents
Afroman
Another musician, Afroman is best known in the UK for his 2000 hit Because I Got High.
Joseph Foreman, his real name, is focused on cutting inflation, the housing market, law enforcement corruption and, unsurprisingly, legalising cannabis.
Robert F Kennedy Jr
The Democratic nomination is the nephew of John F Kennedy, an environmental lawyer who is often labelled an anti-vaccine activist.
Long before the Covid-19 pandemic, he was active in the movement, and public health professionals and members of his own family criticised his beliefs.
Cornel West
The 70-year-old has written books about race and gender. He has been married five times and also released hiphop albums.
Peter Sonski
The former radio host is now serving as an elected member of Connecticut's Regional School District 17 Board of Education.
