Chris Christie

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

(Mel Evans/AP photo)

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie is scheduled to share the stage at a Virginia GOP event Friday night with former House Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

The governor will address the Virginia GOP's annual retreat, called the Advance, in Richmond, according to the state party.

The cocktail reception begins at 5 p.m. and Christie is slated to speak twice throughout the evening, according to the schedule.

Christie was originally slated to speak at a New Jersey Association of Counties summit on public employee pensions at the Trenton Country Club on Friday. However, the group's executive director, John Donnadio, told members in an email on Thursday they learned late on Wednesday that Treasurer Ford Scudder would speak instead of Christie.

Scudder's speech is slated for 1 p.m., according to the association of counties.

Christie's office said the governor is instead planning to attend the viewing of former PSE&G and civic leader Al Koeppe, who died Tuesday.

Christie will meet with national Republicans a day after news broke that Christie will not be named chairman of the Republican National Committee as President-elect Donald Trump takes over the White House.

Christie had been lobbying for the position over the last week, but he and Trump decided mutually that he would not assume the job, confirmed sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the scenario candidly.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook.