Nikki Haley beats Donald Trump in Washington DC for first primary victory

In a significant development in the 2024 Republican presidential campaign, Nikki Haley beats Donald Trump in Washington DC primaries.

She has emerged victorious over Donald Trump in the Republican primary held in Washington DC. This marks her first triumph over the former president in the ongoing race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Despite losing in her home state of South Carolina, Nikki Haley’s win in Washington DC is historic as she becomes the first woman to clinch a Republican primary victory in US history. However, it’s important to note that Donald Trump maintains a substantial lead over Haley, positioning himself as the frontrunner to potentially face Joe Biden in the November election.

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Nikki Haley secured a decisive victory, capturing 62.9% of the vote compared to Trump’s 33.2%. She will receive all 19 Republican delegates from Washington DC, adding to her nationwide delegate count of 43, which pales in comparison to Trump’s 247.

This victory, albeit symbolic to some extent, underscores a rejection of Trump’s leadership by Republicans in a heavily Democrat-leaning jurisdiction like Washington DC, where only a fraction of registered Republicans participated in the primary.

Following her win, Nikki Haley’s campaign emphasized a rejection of “Washington dysfunction” and Trump’s “chaos,” positioning her as a candidate for change. In contrast, the Trump Campaign swiftly dismissed Haley’s victory, labeling her as the “Queen of the Swamp,” a nod to her establishment ties.

Despite this setback, Donald Trump continues to dominate the Republican primaries nationwide, poised to accrue more delegates in upcoming contests, particularly on Super Tuesday, where a substantial number of delegates are at stake.

Nikki Haley remains resolute in her campaign, vowing to continue competing until at least 5 March, when several states hold their primaries on Super Tuesday. With the race intensifying, both candidates are gearing up for a protracted battle to secure the Republican nomination and ultimately challenge the Democratic incumbent in the upcoming presidential election.