By Maria Pemberton
Boston University News Service
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley won the Washington, D.C. primaries over former President Donald Trump on March 3. Haley won 62.8% of the votes over Trump, who was awarded 33.3%, according to The Associated Press. This is the first time in U.S. history that a woman has won a GOP primary.
This win is the first of her campaign after repeated losses in Missouri, Idaho, New Hampshire, Michigan and her home state of South Carolina. Despite these failures, she has remained confident in the competitive nature of the race.
“Republicans closest to Washington’s dysfunction know that Donald Trump has brought nothing but chaos and division for the past 8 years,” Haley wrote on X. “It’s time to start winning again and move our nation forward.”
This win precedes Super Tuesday, which will be a determining factor in Haley’s presidential campaign. Approximately a third of Republican delegates are determined in this collection of 15 caucasus and primaries. Haley has pledged to continue her fight, but requires support in the polls.
“We have a country to save,” Haley said at a rally in Falls Church, Virginia. “I want everybody to get out and vote.”
While this win marks a notable moment in Haley’s campaign, it is unclear if Washington, D.C.’s primary will have major effects on the election at large. The historically Democrat district awarded Haley 19 delegates, bringing her total to 43 Republican delegates. In comparison, Trump still leads with 247 delegates.
Trump responded on Truth social, referring to Haley as “Birdbrain” and a “loser.”
“I purposely stayed away from the D.C. Vote because it is the ‘Swamp,’ with very few delegates, and no upside. Birdbrain spent all of her time, money and effort there,” he wrote.
Trump went on to predict his success on Super Tuesday where more than 800 delegates are at stake.
“Over the weekend we won Missouri, Idaho, and Michigan – BIG NUMBERS – Complete destruction of a very weak opponent. The really big numbers will come on Super Tuesday,” Trump wrote.
Haley’s support tends to lean more towards moderate and independent voters, setting herself apart from her opponent Trump. She maintains that this win is only the beginning.
“As long as 70 percent of Americans are saying ‘I don’t want Donald Trump or Joe Biden’ we’re going to continue being an alternative,” she said in an interview with WCVB News.
