Former President Donald Trump easily defeated Nikki Haley in South Carolina’s Republican primary on Saturday, delivering a crushing blow to her hopes of gathering strength in her home state and casting grave doubt on her continued viability.
Trump’s victory, called by The Associated Press, was widely expected, and offers fresh fodder for his contention that the race is effectively over. Trump has remained popular in South Carolina since his 2016 run, and polls consistently showed him with double-digit leads.
But Haley, a former governor of South Carolina and a United Nations ambassador during Trump’s administration, had hoped to buck the odds. Her loss in the primary raises questions about her path forward as she continues to draw support from independents and moderate Republicans. Despite the setback, Haley has vowed to stay in the race, with donors continuing to fund her campaign.
Trump’s campaign has urged Haley to drop out, pointing to his delegate lead and strong polling numbers. Voters in South Carolina and other states have consistently chosen Trump over Haley, solidifying his pathway to the nomination. The former president’s dominance in the early contests has left Haley facing an uphill battle as she looks to secure a significant number of delegates for the Republican nomination.
