Former President Donald Trump scored a decisive victory in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary on Saturday, defeating former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in her home state and cementing his status as the GOP frontrunner for 2024.
Trump won 59.8% of the vote, compared to Haley’s 39.5%, according to the Associated Press. The rest of the vote was split among minor candidates and write-ins.
The South Carolina Primary result was a major blow for Haley, who had hoped to challenge Trump’s dominance in the party and appeal to a more moderate and diverse base of voters.
Haley had served as governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 and had also campaigned hard in the state, touting her record on economic development, education, and health care.
In addition, Nikki Haley has been a vocal critic of the former president for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and his foreign policy decisions. However, her message failed to resonate with the majority of South Carolina Republicans, who remained loyal to Trump and his populist agenda.
Donald Trump’s win in the South Carolina Primary was his fourth consecutive victory in the 2024 primary season, following his triumphs in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada. He now has a commanding lead in the delegate count, with 110 delegates, compared to Haley’s 20.
His dominance in the GOP race has raised concerns among some Democrats, who fear that he could pose a serious threat to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid in 2024.
The South Carolina Primary was the last major contest before Super Tuesday, when 16 states and territories will hold their primaries and caucuses on March 5th.
