New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, joined by wife Mary Pat Foster, is sworn in by Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court Stuart Rabner for his second term on Jan. 21, 2014 at the War Memorial in Trenton, N.J. (Jeff Zelevansky, Getty Images)

 

Chris Christie joined the crowded GOP presidential race on Tuesday. Here are six things to know about the New Jersey governor:

The early years

His start in politics came as a volunteer in the 1977 New Jersey governor’s race. Christie, at age 14, got his mother to drive him to then-state legislator Tom Kean’s house so he could knock on the candidate’s door and offer his services. Kean would lose that race but went on to serve two terms as governor and years as Christie’s mentor.

Watchdog days

As U.S. attorney for New Jersey from 2002 to 2008, Christie aggressively went after corruption among elected officials. He prosecuted more than 130 cases and lost none. He was named to the federal post after serving as a fundraiser for the 2000 presidential campaign of George W. Bush, whose nickname for Christie was “Big Boy.”

Putting down roots

He doesn’t live in the elegant governor’s mansion, called Drumthwacket, but commutes to the Trenton statehouse from his home in northern New Jersey. When elected in 2009, Christie opted to stay put so his four children would not have to change schools.

Hog-wild

One legislative issue in New Jersey may have been a sign of Christie’s presidential intentions: In November, Christie vetoed a bill pushed by animal-rights advocates that would have outlawed the use of crates to confine pregnant hogs. New Jersey has about 8,000 hogs. Iowa, scene of the first presidential primary contest, has 20 million.

Batter up

While Christie has gotten plenty of attention — most of it negative — for his devotion to the Dallas Cowboys, his own sports career was on the baseball diamond. A catcher on the Livingston, N.J., Little League team and captain of his high school team, Christie was made a member of the Little League Hall of Excellence in 2013.

Blunt style

Christie is known for not pulling punches. At town hall meetings, his at times combative style has sparked controversy. For instance, in 2012 Christie called a Rutgers law student, who was also a former Navy SEAL, an “idiot.” Christie seems to be embracing his no-nonsense persona as he launches his White House bid. A campaign video released ahead of his announcement is titled “Telling It Like It Is.”