Nikki Haley, the former US ambassador to the UN, has achieved a significant victory in the Republican primary in Washington DC by defeating former President Donald Trump. This marks her first win over Trump in the 2024 campaign to become the Republican presidential candidate. While she lost in her home state of South Carolina, Haley has made history as the first woman to win a Republican primary in US history.
The BBC’s US partner CBS reports that Haley will receive all 19 Republican delegates from Washington DC, which brings her total delegate count to 43 nationwide. However, she still lags far behind Trump, who currently has 247 delegates. Despite her victory in Washington DC, it is widely believed that Trump will be the Republican nominee and will likely face Joe Biden in the November election.
Haley secured an impressive 62.9% of the vote, while Trump received 33.2%. It is important to note that this win is largely symbolic, as Washington DC is a strongly Democrat-leaning jurisdiction with only approximately 23,000 registered Republicans in the city. According to the Washington Post, 2,035 Republicans participated in the primary.
Responding to her victory, Haley’s campaign national spokesperson, Olivia Perez-Cubas, stated, “It’s not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos.” However, the Trump Campaign quickly dismissed Haley’s win and labeled her the “Queen of the Swamp.” Karoline Leavitt, Trump Campaign press secretary, criticized Haley as being embraced by lobbyists and DC insiders who want to maintain the failed status quo.
Despite this setback, Trump has been a dominant force in the Republican campaign, winning every state primary or caucus thus far. He is expected to secure more delegates on Super Tuesday, when voters in 15 states and one US territory will nominate their candidate. Super Tuesday is a crucial day for the Republican nomination, with 874 delegates up for grabs.
Haley has vowed to stay in the race until at least March 5th, which marks Super Tuesday. Thousands of people will cast their votes on this day, and Haley hopes to gain further support. While her chances of securing the nomination may be slim, she remains determined to continue her campaign.
As the US election progresses, all eyes will be on the battle between Biden and Trump. Analysts are closely examining the states where the election will be won and lost, as well as the policies and potential impact of a second Trump term. The state of the economy is also a key factor that could influence voters’ decisions.
The road to the Republican nomination is still long, and while Nikki Haley’s victory in Washington DC may not drastically alter the course of the campaign, it serves as a testament to her resilience and determination. As the race intensifies, it remains to be seen who will emerge as the ultimate Republican candidate to challenge Joe Biden in the upcoming election.
