New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is returning to the early presidential caucus state of Iowa on Saturday where he is slated to speak at two events.

The potential 2016 Republican presidential contender is scheduled to speak at a luncheon for Rep. Steve King's (R-Iowa) annual pheasant hunt north of Akron before keynoting a birthday fundraiser for Gov. Terry Branstad (R) in Clive.

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King's weekend hunt, held at the Hole ‘N the Wall Lodge, has in the past attracted potential Republican contenders such as Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzMurkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates MORE (Texas), former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pennsylvania) and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Christie, who will not be participating in the hunt, has held multiple fundraisers for King over the past several years despite criticism by Democrats, who point out King's conservative bonafides relative to Christie.

King faces a challenge from Democrat Jim Mowrer, an Iraq veteran The Des Moines Register endorsed this week.

After the luncheon, Christie, head of the Republican Governors Association, will speak at a Branstad fundraiser at Seven Flags Event Center in Clive, which offers up to a $25,000 VIP package for four, including a photo with the governor.

Earlier this month Christie traveled to Cedar Rapids to campaign for Republican congressional candidate Rod Blum and Branstad, who enjoys a double-digit lead against his Democratic opponent, Iowa state Sen. Jack Hatch, in recent polls.

Christie has used trips to the early caucus state to build inroads with local political operatives and voters.

Christie would be the first GOP presidential choice among just 6 percent of likely 2016 Iowa caucusgoers, according to a Bloomberg Politics/Des Moines Register poll released earlier this month.

That would put him behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (17 percent), Dr. Ben Carson (11 percent) and Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulSecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill MORE (R-Ky.). Forty-five percent of Iowans view Christie unfavorably, compared to 39 percent who view him favorably in the poll.

Christie's trip to Iowa comes a day after he and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a joint press conference announcing a new policy for those returning to the U.S. from Ebola-stricken countries.