Former President George W. Bush has made a surprise visit to the nation’s Republican governors.

The former president joined a group of about two dozen governors for lunch at an annual meeting of the Republican Governors Association at an Arizona resort.

Spokesmen for the former president say New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie asked Bush to come to lunch as a surprise and share some of his experiences from his time as Texas governor and U.S. president.

Christie became the chairman of the influential governors group on Thursday.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer says Bush spoke with the governors over two hours and encouraged them ahead of the 2014 elections.

She says Bush agrees, that — quote — “the best breeding ground for presidents is the governors.”

(AP)