Christie eyeing national Republican spot after New Jersey, report claims

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The next job for Gov. Chris Christie could be leading the national Republican Party, according to a report in Politico.

The report cites unnamed sources who claimed that Christie has told senior members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team that he is interested in becoming chairman of the Republican National Committee.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus is stepping down to become Trump’s chief of staff at the White House.

Christie expressed interest in the job during his November appearance on New Jersey 101.5’s “Ask the Governor,” saying it would be “a great opportunity to build on a Republican majority in the country.”

“But those are decisions that are going to be made down the line and I haven’t had any conversations about anything like that,” Christie told host Eric Scott, who had asked him about his time as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

“I raised more money than any RGA chairman ever and I elected more governors that any RGH chairman ever, so I’m proud of that,” he said.

Christie was in charge of the group from 2013 to 2014. Under him, the RGA raised more than $117 million.

In the 2014 gubernatorial election, most Republican governors held onto their seats, and two more won to give the GOP control of 31 governor’s offices.

Christie’s name has been bandied about as a possible pick for a role in the Trump administration.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, a report claimed that Christie was being considered as a pick for secretary of the Energy or Homeland Security departments.

Christie has insisted that he intends to remain governor until his term expires in 2018.

Christie was demoted as chairman of Trump’s transition team, fueling gossip that Trump was unhappy with Christie’s handling of the George Washington Bridge scandal. But Christie last month called that “crap.”

In his interview with Eric Scott, Christie did not rule out serving as RNC chairman.

“I have some facility for the politics and think I understand it pretty well, so I did enjoy my time as RGA chairman. But whether something like that is something that the president-elect would want me to do in the future is completely up to him.”

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-438-1015 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.