Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump won the South Carolina Republican primary, defeating the state’s former governor, Nikki Haley.
Trump’s widely expected victory solidifies his place as the presumptive Republican nominee, though he still needs 1,215 delegates to clinch the candidature. Until then, Haley is determined to keep the GOP primary as a two-person fight.
On Tuesday, Haley committed to remain on the campaign trail until Super Tuesday, March 5, even if she lost her home state’s Saturday primary. After losing to Trump on Saturday, Haley doubled down on her commitment.
“I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president,” Haley said in Charleston, South Carolina, after Trump’s projected victory. “I’m a woman of my word.”
Haley’s campaign verified that she has enough funds to stay afloat following a record-breaking fundraising month in January.
The former UN ambassador has yet to win a primary race this year, albeit she narrowly lost to Trump in New Hampshire because of the state’s large number of undeclared voters. South Carolina was far less undecided ahead of Saturday’s primaries.
According to a February poll conducted by USA Today and Suffolk University, Trump had an approximately 30-point lead over Haley, shattering any illusions she had of having an advantage on her home court.
Trump was also endorsed by local South Carolina GOP chapters, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace, and other state officials.
Trump also has a strong track record in the Palmetto State, having won the GOP primary in 2016 and received 55% of the vote in 2020 against Joe Biden.
