Nikki Haley has achieved a significant milestone in her 2024 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination by securing a victory over former President Donald Trump in the party’s primary in Washington DC.
This marks her first triumph over Trump in the ongoing campaign, although she faced defeat in her home state of South Carolina. Importantly, Haley has made history by becoming the first woman to win a Republican primary in the United States.
The CBS reported that Haley will be awarded all 19 Republican delegates at stake in Washington DC, adding to her national delegate count of 43. However, she lags considerably behind Donald Trump, who commands a substantial lead with 247 delegates. In the DC primary, Haley secured 62.9% of the vote, while Trump garnered 33.2%.
Despite this notable win, it is largely considered symbolic due to the heavily Democrat-leaning nature of the capital. Washington DC boasts a modest Republican presence, with only around 23,000 registered Republicans in the city. According to the Washington Post, 2,035 Republicans participated in the primary, as reported by local party officials.
Reflecting on the outcome, Olivia Perez-Cubas, the national spokesperson for Haley’s campaign, remarked, “It’s not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos.”
Nevertheless, Donald Trump continues to dominate the Republican campaign, having secured victories in every state primary or caucus thus far.
With a considerable lead and momentum, Trump is poised for further success on Super Tuesday, where voters in 15 states and one US territory will participate in nominating contests, making it the most significant day in the campaign with 874 Republican delegates at stake.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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