loudest anti-Trump voices, files presidential paperwork

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is set to launch his presidential campaign on Tuesday night, joining a crowded -- and still growing -- GOP primary field.

Christie will announce his bid at a town hall-style event in New Hampshire, a key early primary state. The event is being hosted by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics outside Manchester.

Earlier on Tuesday, Christie filed his campaign paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.

He will be joining a field that is currently led by former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Other primary contenders include former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum are anticipated to launch their own campaigns on Wednesday.

MORE: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to announce bid for president

Christie will have significant ground to make up, as early polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight show him in the single digits, badly trailing both Trump and DeSantis.

A Monmouth University poll released last week also showed Christie's favorability rating among Republican voters deeply underwater, with just 21% viewing him favorably and 47% viewing him unfavorably.