Former Governor Chris Christie, a Republican candidate in the presidential race, has been left off the Maine primary ballot, as announced by the state Secretary of State on Saturday. Christie, along with former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.), was the only GOP candidate missing from the list of candidates on the primary ballot. Notably, author Marianne Williamson was also not listed on the Democratic ballot.

According to state law, candidates must submit 2,000 petitioned signatures to be placed on the Maine ballot. On Friday, Maine officials informed the Christie campaign that they had determined only 844 of the collected signatures were valid. The campaign, however, stated that they had gathered and submitted over 6,000 signatures and believe that the issue lies in the way the signatures were reviewed. They have decided to file an appeal in response to the decision.

Christie's campaign has encountered challenges in maintaining momentum, but hoped that his outspoken criticism of former President Trump would help pave his way to the White House. While he has struggled to gain ground in national polls, Christie has fared better in New Hampshire, where he has focused campaign resources.

In light of his exclusion from the Maine primary ballot, Christie expressed confidence in qualifying for the upcoming fourth GOP debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He stated that polling numbers at this stage of the race don't provide an accurate picture of the overall outcome, citing past examples where frontrunners at this stage faltered in later stages of the campaign.

The Hill has reached out to both Christie and Hutchinson's campaigns for comment regarding their omission from the primary ballot in Maine.