Nikki Haley has secured a significant victory in the Republican primary in Washington DC, defeating former President Donald Trump. This marks her first triumph over Trump in the 2024 campaign to become the Republican presidential candidate.
First Woman to Win Republican Primary in US History
While Nikki Haley faced defeat in her home state of South Carolina, she made history by becoming the first woman to win a Republican primary in the United States.
Huge Lead for Trump, Likely to Face Biden in November
Despite Haley’s victory, Trump maintains a substantial lead over her and is expected to be the Republican nominee facing off against Joe Biden in the November election.
Delegate Count and Symbolic Win
CBS reports that Nikki Haley will receive all 19 Republican delegates from Washington DC, bringing her total to 43 delegates nationwide. However, this pales in comparison to Trump’s 247 delegates. Haley’s win in Washington DC is largely symbolic, given the capital’s strong Democratic leanings.
Reaction and Voter Turnout
Haley’s campaign spokesperson noted that Republicans in Washington DC are rejecting Trump and his perceived chaos. The voter turnout for the primary was reported to be 2,035 Republicans participating out of approximately 23,000 registered Republicans in the city.
Trump’s Dominance and Super Tuesday
Trump has dominated the Republican primaries and caucuses thus far. He is poised to secure more delegates on Super Tuesday, the largest day of nominating contests, with 874 Republican delegates at stake.
Basic Information about Nikki Haley
Full Name: Nimrata “Nikki” Haley
Birthdate: January 20, 1972
Birthplace: Bamberg, South Carolina, United States
Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Clemson University
Political Party: Republican
Career Highlights:
- Governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017
- United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018
- First woman to serve as governor of South Carolina
- First woman to win a Republican primary in US history
Notable Accomplishments:
- Led efforts to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House grounds in 2015
- Advocated for job creation and economic development during her tenure as governor
- Promoted US interests and advocated for reforms at the United Nations as ambassador
Nikki Haley’s Husband: Michael, a National Guardsman, is now in Djibouti, Africa. He chose to go there for a year starting in June 2023. Nikki says her husband’s military job inspires her to run.
Nikki Haley’s Family: Married to Michael Haley, with two children