Nikki Haley Wins D.C. GOP Primary, Awaits Super Tuesday
By • March 4, 2024 0 641
Former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley won the D.C. Republican Party presidential primary, held March 1 to 3, with 63 percent of the vote, winning all of DC’s 19 delegates to the Republican national nominating convention to be held June 15 to 18 in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
It was the first time Haley had won a primary in the 2024 presidential election season, and the first time former president Donald Trump lost a primary this year.
Haley made a lively personal appearance the first day of the D.C. primary, answering questions and taking selfies at the Madison Hotel on 15th Street NW. Voting was taking place downstairs in a secured poll venue — the only one for the GOP in Washington, D.C.
On the ballot as well Haley were former President Donald Trump — and, in order of their filing, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Ryan Binkley, former Governor Nikki Haley, Governor Doug Burgum, National Security Strategist David Stuckenberg, and former Governor Chris Christie. Trump came in second to Haley with 33 percent.
“As of October 31, 2023, there are 23,343 registered voters affiliated with the Republican Party of the District of Columbia, or 5.05 percent of all registered voters,” according to D.C. GOP officials. “The party faces steep difficulties in getting its candidates elected, as Democrats overwhelmingly outnumber Republicans in the District of Columbia. No Republican has ever been elected mayor since District of Columbia home rule began in 1975. The D.C. Republicans have had no representation in the D.C. Council since Carol Schwartz left office in 2009.”
Still, the Haley campaign is going to the convention with countable delegates.
“This contest may be the best chance for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley to score a victory in a presidential nomination contest where former President Donald Trump has won every contest so far,” according to some Haley campaign watchers. As of Sunday, Trump had 244 delegated awarded him from primaries and caucuses and Haley 43, counting D.C.
On Super Tuesday, March 5, when 15 states and one territory hold their own nominating contests, some polls show that about 60 percent of Republicans indicate they will vote for Trump in the primaries.
“The 2024 election cycle is a big year for D.C. Republican voters, as our presidential primary will be the fifth in the nation, according to Republican rules,” said D.C. Republican Party Chairman Patrick Mara. “That could significantly impact the nominating process of the eventual Republican presidential nominee.”
Republican and Democratic nominees also appear to be more split about the issues, including on what to do about the millions of illegal immigrants (or faux asylum requesters) pouring over the borders and into sanctuary cities. That has become the number-one issue, and no party nominee has the dominant solution.
