Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has emerged as the projected winner of the Republican primary in Washington, D.C., according to ABC News. This victory marks her first primary win against former President Donald Trump, although it does little to alleviate the significant challenge of surpassing him in the race for the GOP nomination.
Haley’s projected win will mark a historic milestone as she becomes the first woman to ever secure victory in a Republican presidential primary or caucus.
According to research conducted by the Rutgers University Center for American Women and Politics, Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican candidate in 1964, holds the distinction of being the first woman to have her name placed into nomination for President. However, despite this achievement, she did not win any primaries.
Elizabeth Dole, a Republican candidate in 1999, decided to withdraw from the primaries before the race began.
Michele Bachmann participated as a Republican candidate in the 2012 presidential race but opted to withdraw following the Iowa caucuses.
Carly Fiorina, a Republican candidate in 2016, chose to withdraw from the race following her losses in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Haley campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “Nikki Haley’s victory in the Republican primary marks a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to accomplish this feat in American history.”
A total of nineteen delegates were available for the taking. The opportunity to cast a vote began on Friday and continued through Saturday. In order to be counted, absentee mail-in ballots had to be received by Saturday.
On June 4, the Democrats will be hosting their own presidential primary in the city. This event will see President Joe Biden facing only nominal opposition.
State significance
The primary election in Washington, D.C. is not expected to have significant consequences for either party, as the district has consistently voted for Democrats in the past.
