Current:Home > FinanceChris Christie may not appear on Republican primary ballot in Maine -Momentum Wealth Path
Chris Christie may not appear on Republican primary ballot in Maine
View
Date:2025-04-16 18:58:26
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is in danger of not appearing on Maine's primary ballot after he fell short of the minimum 2,000 signatures needed from Maine voters to qualify for the state's Republican presidential primary, state officials said Friday.
A letter from Maine's Director of Elections Heidi M. Peckham said Christie's campaign only submitted "844 names certified by municipal registrars." Candidates had to file signatures with the municipal clerks for certification before submitting them to the Secretary of State's office by 5 p.m. Friday.
Christie has five days to appeal the decision in Maine Superior Court.
"The campaign collected and submitted over 6,000 signatures. This is simply a procedural issue with the way they reviewed signatures and is under appeal," a spokesperson for Christie's campaign told CBS News.
As it stands, the Republican candidates who will appear on the GOP primary ballot include former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and pastor Ryan Binkley.
On the Democratic side, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who launched his campaign in late October, and President Biden, will be on their party's primary ballot.
The contests are set for March 5, 2024, also known as Super Tuesday, which sees the most state primaries or caucuses on a single day during the election season.
This will be Maine's first presidential primary election conducted under the new semi-open primary law, according to Maine's Secretary of State's office. The unique process allows voters who are registered as unenrolled, with no party affiliation, to vote in any party's primary. If a voter enrolled as a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Green Independent wants to vote in another party's primary, they have to leave their current party 15 days before joining a new party and casting a ballot.
Those unenrolled voters make up a significant portion of Maine's total registered voters. In 2022, they accounted for 265,692 of 929,017 voters, or just over 28% of registered voters, according to available state data.
Similar to its New England neighbor, New Hampshire also has a large independent voting block. Christie has centered his campaign on trying to win in the Granite State, and has made the case that performing well in New Hampshire is his path to the nomination. With low favorability ratings among Republicans, his strategy has been about appealing to independents in the first-in-the-nation primary state.
The strategy also goes beyond New Hampshire. Christie's campaign manager, Maria Comella, laid out the campaign's thinking in a memo to donors.
"After the field has narrowed naturally, and Christie has established himself as the clear alternative to Trump, there are several state primaries where independents can participate," Comella wrote. "If Trump can be kept under 50%, Christie can win delegates even in states he does not win."
Even if Christie is able to narrow in on Trump's lead, or pull off an upset in New Hampshire, the setback in Maine could complicate this strategy.
- In:
- Republican Party
- Chris Christie
- Maine
veryGood! (5675)
Related
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Ticket prices for AFC, NFC championship game: Cost to see Chiefs vs. Ravens, Lions vs. 49ers
- Gaza's death toll surpasses 25,000, Health Ministry says, as ongoing Hamas war divides Israelis
- Below Deck Med's Natalya Scudder Makes a Shocking Return to Cause Major Chaos
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- 8-Year-Old Girl Reveals Taylor Swift's Reaction After Jason Kelce Lifted Her Up to NFL Suite
- Georgia lawmakers advance bill to revive disciplinary commission for state prosecutors
- Looking for a deal on that expensive prescription drug? We've got you covered.
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Joel Embiid sets franchise record with 70 points in 76ers’ win over Wembanyama, Spurs
Ranking
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Supreme Court agrees to hear case of Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip
- Liberia’s new president takes office with a promise to ‘rescue’ Africa’s oldest republic
- A college student fell asleep on the train. She woke up hours later trapped inside.
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- These employees have the lowest reputation for honesty, according to Gallup
- Proof Kylie Jenner Is Bonding With Kourtney Kardashian's Stepdaughter Atiana De La Hoya
- Are Jennifer Hudson, Common confirming their relationship? Rapper talks dating EGOT winner
Recommendation
Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
Looking for a deal on that expensive prescription drug? We've got you covered.
Clothing company Kyte Baby tries to fend off boycott after denying mom's request to work from preemie son's hospital
Michigan school shooter’s mother to stand trial for manslaughter in 4 student deaths
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Alabama calls nitrogen execution method ‘painless’ and ‘humane,’ but critics raise doubts
'Send your pup here!' Video shows incredible dog help rescue its owner from icy lake
Supreme Court allows federal agents to cut razor wire Texas installed on US-Mexico border