Republican Nikki Haley set to announce her withdrawal from US presidential race

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s exit from the Republican presidential race clears the path for former President Donald Trump as he maintains dominance in the GOP primary

Sources familiar with her plans indicate that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will announce her withdrawal from the Republican presidential race on Wednesday, paving the way for former President Donald Trump.

Haley, who previously served as Trump’s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, was the final major contender among a dozen candidates that the former president defeated in a GOP primary where he maintained dominance throughout. This included winning 14 out of 15 GOP contests on Super Tuesday, despite opting out of party debates and maintaining a lighter early-state travel schedule compared to his competitors.

Initially, Haley had committed to staying in the race until at least Super Tuesday. She had also begun to escalate her criticisms of Trump, questioning his mental fitness and likening him to President Joe Biden.

Why is she exiting the race?

Her fourth consecutive loss in her home state of South Carolina in 2024, following a defeat to “none of these candidates” in the Nevada primary where Trump did not participate, signaled a shift in her campaign’s prospects. Trump opted for the party-run caucuses instead, which distributed delegates.

As the race transitioned into a new phase, with a focus on national contests where 56% of the party’s delegates are set to be awarded by March 12, Haley faced a challenging path forward. The majority of these contests are winner-take-all, leaving her with little hope of keeping up with Trump’s momentum.

Despite these challenges, Haley made history in her campaign by becoming the first Republican woman to win primary contests in Vermont and the District of Columbia. While these victories prevented Trump from claiming a complete sweep against Haley in every state, they did not translate into a substantial delegate count for her campaign.

Source: Newsroom