There was n't room for the two of them . In the fall of 2012 , with the presidential race in full swing , Louisiana Gov . Bobby Jindal and New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie , two prominent Republican governors with well-known national ambitions , were engaged in a different kind of campaign . Behind the scenes , both men were aggressively jockeying for a plum political gig : The chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association , a coveted post for any aspiring presidential candidate . The high-profile job would allow one of them to travel the country , gain a foothold in key states , and mingle with some of the GOP 's leading financial backers -- all while controlling a nearly $ 150 million midterm political budget . Previous RGA chairmen have used the post as a national launch pad : Former Massachusetts Gov . Mitt Romney led the RGA in 2006 before his first presidential campaign , and Texas Gov . Rick Perry steered the committee in 2011 before embarking on his own White House bid . Christie wo n't commit to serving full term in New Jersey . Ultimately , both Jindal and Christie would each have a shot at running the RGA , Jindal in 2013 and Christie in 2014 . Christie , fresh off his re-election in New Jersey , formally took over the reins of the organization on Thursday afternoon at its annual meeting in Arizona . Jindal is transitioning to the role of vice-chairman . But before that line of succession was arranged , the tightly knit universe of GOP governors who comprise the RGA had to wrestle with an uncomfortable dilemma : Jindal and Christie were both gunning for the committee 's top job in the same year -- 2014 . And with good reason . Next year 's midterm elections feature 36 gubernatorial contests , including three potentially competitive races in the early presidential caucus and primary states of Iowa , South Carolina and Florida . The RGA chairman will be a familiar face on television screens across the country and a constant point of contact for major donors . A successful 2014 cycle would be a gleaming resume point heading into the 2016 presidential cycle , which begins in earnest the moment polls close next November . GOP civil war could be brutal in 2014 . The question of who would run the show in 2014 , Jindal or Christie , was complicated by the organization 's lack of formal succession rules and Perry 's unexpected resignation in late 2011 to run for president . When Perry stepped aside , Virginia Gov . Bob McDonnell was suddenly thrust into the RGA 's top job . Christie was elected vice-chairman , putting him in line to take over the RGA in 2013 . Jindal , a veteran member of the RGA 's executive committee , was hoping to follow him in 2014 . But that scenario did not sit well with Christie and his team of advisers for one glaring reason : He was up for re-election in 2013 , making it next to impossible to run the party committee while also campaigning for his own job in New Jersey . The Garden State 's strict laws governing coordination between party committees made the prospect even more forbidding . Where does Christie go next ? So with a flurry of phone calls and e-mails to his fellow governors , Christie charged ahead and launched a behind-the-scenes campaign to shake up the planned order of succession and take over the RGA in 2014 , multiple Republican sources told CNN . Jindal started whipping up his own votes . Most of the Republicans familiar with their efforts insisted that the brief but intense campaign for the 2014 job , which unfolded in September and October of last year , was collegial and far from rancorous . `` The leadership teams for 2013-2014 were decided last year , '' said Phil Cox , the RGA 's executive director . `` Continuity is a hallmark of RGA and Governor Christie -- one of our party 's strongest national leaders -- will continue the strong stewardship of Governor Jindal and prior chairmen . '' One senior Republican told CNN that the bout of campaigning was nothing more than `` friendly competition '' between the two governors . Said another Republican , with a nod to the ambitions of both men : `` There was a little back and forth . You know the personalities involved . '' Will Christie 's moment last ? One GOP operative familiar with the jockeying , however , said Jindal and his team were `` a little frustrated '' by Christie 's attempt to pry away a job that the Louisiana governor thought was rightfully his . `` It just kind of took people by surprise , '' said the operative , who , like most of the people who spoke about the maneuvering , declined to go on the record discussing internal committee business . `` It came out of left field . It 's not how the organization was structured , really . The RGA had become a very congenial organization without a lot of internal politics . You do n't really shift things that are going well . Bobby had paid his dues . Was it a good move by Christie ? Absolutely . It just rubbed some people the wrong way . '' The campaigning grew intense enough that McDonnell fired off an a internal note to his fellow governors urging them to keep their eyes on a more pressing challenge -- the presidential election , then little more than a few weeks away . Christie to GOP : 'If being me is n't good enough , then fine , I will go home ' It soon became clear , though , that `` Christie had the votes , '' one person familiar with the whip effort told CNN , citing Christie 's argument that it would be best for him to run the committee after securing re-election in New Jersey . `` It just made sense , '' one neutral GOP source said . Other Christie backers on the committee pointed to his ever-growing star power , arguing that his media profile and impressive fundraising acumen would be serious boons for the committee in a busy election year . As the dust began to settle in early October , McDonnell managed to broker a deal in which Jindal would run the committee in 2013 , with Wisconsin Gov . Scott Walker as his vice-chairman . Christie would take over the following year , with Jindal as vice-chair . `` The process worked itself out in a quick way and collegial way , '' said one Republican with knowledge of the process . `` It was a win-win , though it was probably a little more of a win for Christie . '' If there was any tension between Jindal and Christie , it was n't apparent at a news conference Wednesday in which Jindal patted his successor on the back . `` Next year is a very important year for the RGA , '' Jindal told reporters in Arizona . `` I think Chris is going to a great job . He 's going to do a great job raising money for the RGA . I think he is going to a great job campaigning across the country for our incumbents and our challengers as well . ''
High - profile job allowed Christie to gain traction in key states , mingle with GOP 's big financial backers . Previous RGA chairmen have used the job as a national launching pad . Christie launched behind the scenes phone and email campaign to shake up order of business . Christie backers say his ever - growing star power will be boon for Republicans in a busy election year .