In a significant development, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has clinched victory in the Republican presidential primary in Washington, DC, according to projections by CNN. The victory, which marks Haley’s first in the primary, comes after three days of voting at the party’s sole polling location in the capital – a downtown hotel.
This win arrives just before an anticipated pivotal week in the GOP primary, with Haley making a final push as the race gains national attention. However, Haley’s success in the District was not entirely unexpected. Political observers in Washington had long speculated that this could be Haley’s best, if not only, opportunity to secure a primary win.
Despite former President Donald Trump’s influence over the capital’s GOP, which boasts approximately 22,000 registered voters, his grip has never fully mirrored his nationwide dominance. Trump clinched the primary in 2020, running unopposed, but only managed to secure a third-place finish in the 2016 cycle.
Haley’s confidence was evident when she held an event with local GOP leaders on Friday, signaling optimism. However, the focus on Washington among Republicans is likely to fade as the general election approaches. The District, which overwhelmingly supported Biden in 2020 with over 92% of the vote, has historically never backed a Republican presidential candidate. The GOP’s best performance in the District was in 1972, when Richard Nixon secured just over 21% of the vote during his landslide re-election.