New Jersey’s Republican Governor Chris Christie will attend The Iowa Freedom Summit with Republican Rep. Steve King on January 24. The event is co-hosted by Citizens United and is seen as a step on the road to the 2016 presidential elections.
Other confirmed guests for the forum include potential 2016 hopefuls such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), former Gov. Mike Huckabee, Dr. Ben Carson and former Sen. Rick Santorum.
Former Gov. Sarah Palin will also attend the event, together with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT).
Jeff Marschner of Citizens United confirms to Breitbart News that other potential 2016 presidential candidates had been invited, including former Gov. Jeb Bush, former Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
According to Marschner, Paul declined the invitation. Bush, Romney, and Rubio have not responded.
As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Christie visited Iowa several times in recent months, attending campaign events with King and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.
He is currently considering a bid for president, and could announce his intentions in early 2015.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Christie’s political adviser Mike DuHaime indicated that Christie was willing to accept King’s invitation.
“Gov. Christie very much values the friendships he’s developed over the years with both Gov. Branstad and Congressman King,” DuHaime said.