(Scypre.com) – In a significant development within the 2024 primary campaign, Nikki Haley, the former U.N. Ambassador, emerged victorious over former President Donald Trump in the Washington, D.C. primary, marking her first triumph in the race.
Haley secured nearly 63% of the votes, as reported by the Associated Press, approximately an hour and a half after the polls closed. This victory awarded Haley 19 delegates, enhancing her position in the campaign.
Despite a decrease in voter turnout compared to the 2016 primaries, this win alters the delegate count to 244 for Trump and 43 for Haley. Washington, D.C.’s primary presented Haley with a critical opportunity to break Trump’s streak of primary victories and to assert herself as a formidable contender. Trump, who had previously won an uncontested primary in D.C. in 2020, did not fare as well in the 2016 primaries, where he was outperformed by Senator Marco Rubio and former Governor John Kasich.
The district’s Democratic leaning, demonstrated by President Biden’s 92% vote share in the 2020 election, suggested Haley could have an edge in this particular contest.
Trump’s campaign has been characterized by a series of victories across various states, including Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the Virgin Islands, South Carolina, and Michigan, consolidating his status as the primary’s frontrunner. His campaign confidently anticipated focusing on the general election, as indicated by a statement provided to Fox News Digital, which declared the primary race effectively concluded in Trump’s favor.
Despite Trump’s substantial lead in delegates prior to the Washington, D.C. primary, Haley’s win adds momentum to her campaign. She remains a determined competitor, even after facing a setback in South Carolina, her home state.
The upcoming primaries, particularly on Super Tuesday, are critical for Haley. With 29 delegates available in the next state primary and a total of 865 delegates at stake across 15 states during Super Tuesday, Haley has strategically invested in advertising to bolster her campaign across these crucial battlegrounds.
With the GOP nomination requiring 1,215 delegates, the race remains open. Neither candidate will clinch the nomination immediately following Super Tuesday, indicating a potentially prolonged and competitive primary season ahead. Haley’s recent victory in Washington, D.C. not only interrupts Trump’s series of wins but also signals her intent to persist and compete vigorously on the national stage.