In a decisive victory, former President Donald Trump has clinched the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, according to CNN projections. This win further solidifies his position as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, leaving his primary competitor, Nikki Haley, to reassess her dwindling prospects.
Trump has dominated all GOP nominating contests thus far, securing substantial victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, followed by Nevada and the US Virgin Islands, where Haley was not on the ballot. His latest triumph in South Carolina, a state that elected Haley as governor twice, is perhaps his most significant achievement in this campaign.
“This victory came sooner and is even larger than we anticipated,” Trump announced to his supporters at his election night watch party in Columbia. Surrounded by prominent South Carolina political figures, including Gov. Henry McMaster and Sen. Tim Scott, Trump proclaimed, “The Republican Party has never been as unified as it is right now.”
While Sen. Lindsey Graham was met with boos at Trump’s event, Sen. Tim Scott received a warm welcome. Scott, who endorsed Trump after withdrawing from the primary, has become a favored surrogate and potential running mate for the former president. “South Carolina is Trump country,” Scott declared to the enthusiastic crowd.
This result puts pressure on Haley, who earlier this week asserted, “I’m not going anywhere.” The GOP nomination race now moves to Michigan, where a primary will be held on Tuesday. Following a few more scattered contests, Super Tuesday on March 5 presents an opportunity for Trump to edge closer to securing his third consecutive party nomination.
After her defeat in her home state, Haley’s already floundering campaign is likely to face increased scrutiny from Republicans urging her to step aside and allow Trump to focus on a probable rematch with President Joe Biden, who secured more than 96% of the vote in the Palmetto State’s Democratic primary earlier this month.
Despite the setbacks, Haley’s team remains defiant. Campaign manager Betsy Ankney confirmed plans to invest heavily in Super Tuesday states, stating that Haley will continue her campaign regardless of the outcome. “We know that Trump is a juggernaut… breaking that hold is going to take a lot,” Ankney said. “We are sprinting through the tape here. We have over 12 events planned in those Super Tuesday states, and we’re going to keep fighting.”
This story has been updated with additional developments.