In a significant political development, former President Donald Trump has clinched victory in New Hampshire’s Republican presidential primary, according to CNN projections. This win places him ahead of former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, inching him closer to a potential rematch with incumbent President Joe Biden in the forthcoming elections.
Trump’s triumph, coming just eight days after a resounding victory in the Iowa caucuses, marks an unprecedented event in modern primary history. He is the first candidate to secure wins in both the Iowa and New Hampshire Republican contests. This double victory further cements his grip on the GOP, dealing a severe blow to Haley’s aspirations for the 2024 presidency and the ambitions of the party’s anti-Trump factions.
New Hampshire’s primary electorate, known for its moderate leanings compared to other early voting states, is largely composed of “undeclared” voters, who make up nearly 40% of the state’s registered voters. These voters are allowed to participate in the primary of their choice. Haley, who served as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, consistently polled well among these moderate voters and those desiring a departure from the Trump era.
With entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy dropping out after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis exiting the race, Haley is the last obstacle in Trump’s path to a third consecutive Republican presidential nomination. Despite having the backing of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Haley’s campaign was unable to halt Trump’s historic win.
Focus Shifts to South Carolina
As the political landscape evolves, the next contest in Nevada is already in sight. However, Haley has conceded the state to Trump, choosing to bypass the state’s primary and focus on the South Carolina primary scheduled for February 24. Known as the “first in the south” primary, South Carolina has a storied history of selecting presidential nominees.
Trump has already begun to undermine Haley’s campaign by securing endorsements from her former allies in her home state. Senator Tim Scott, who was appointed by Haley during her governorship in 2013, and Representative Nancy Mace, who Haley supported against a Trump-backed challenger in 2022, have both recently endorsed Trump.
Despite these setbacks, Haley remains defiant. “I have watched the political class line up with Donald Trump. I have fought the political class all my life. You won’t see the political class with me in South Carolina,” she declared at a campaign stop in Franklin, New Hampshire.
Report contributed by CNN’s Ebony Davis.