TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Facebook's CEO has friended New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie again.

Mark Zuckerberg will host a fundraiser for Christie next month at his home in Palo Alto.

The young tech billionaire and the Republican governor teamed up in 2010 when Zuckerberg pledged to donate $100 million to Newark's public schools, which are under state control.

The Christie campaign said the fundraiser shows how much respect Christie has earned for taking on tough fights to reform and improve education.

Christie said Thursday his relationship with Zuckerberg has turned into a friendship over the last three years.

"He picked up the phone unsolicited and asked what he could do to help," the governor said. "He offered to do a fundraiser."

When the founder of Facebook makes such an offer, Christie said, you answer, "Yes sir. What time? Happy to come."

So far, the only prominent Democrat running against Christie is state Sen. Barbara Buono but the Democratic establishment has been trying to recruit a better-known candidate to challenge to the popular Christie.

Polls show Christie with a big lead heading into the November election. His first in-state fundraiser of the campaign season will be Feb. 4, the week before his California trip, he said.