A notable setback reported by CNN on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley encountered a significant defeat in the Nevada Republican presidential primary, garnering fewer votes than the “none of these candidates” option.
Although the primary, coinciding with the Democratic primary, carried symbolic weight and did not influence delegate allocation for the Republican nomination, determined by Thursday’s caucuses, its outcome underscored Nevada Republicans’ dissatisfaction with Haley. She opted to forego campaigning in the state in favor of focusing on her native South Carolina, scheduled for voting on February 21.
Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and a figure aiming to present herself as a moderate contrast to the still-popular former president, Donald Trump, faced criticism for her approach. She had voiced disapproval of Trump’s involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot and his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, while also acknowledging some of his policies.
However, her strategy foundered in Nevada, where Trump’s name was absent from the ballot, leaving many voters feeling estranged by Haley’s absence. Nevada’s Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, encouraged voters to select the “none of these candidates” option as a means of expressing discontent with Haley’s disregard for the state. Sandoval additionally endorsed Trump for the nomination, citing him as the most capable candidate to challenge President Joe Biden in the upcoming November election.
With 86% of precincts accounted for, “none” commanded 63% of the votes, while Haley secured 31%. The remaining 6% dispersed among candidates who had withdrawn from the race or were not actively campaigning.
Haley’s campaign dismissed the outcome as immaterial, characterizing it as a “rigged game” favoring Trump, and emphasized their focus on South Carolina and beyond.
Campaign spokeswoman Olivia Perez-Cubas remarked, “Even Donald Trump knows that when you play penny slots, the house wins. We didn’t bother to play a game rigged for Trump. We’re full steam ahead in South Carolina and beyond.”
Trump, anticipated to triumph in the Thursday caucuses and clinch the nomination, refrained from commenting on Haley’s defeat.
The Nevada primary marked the third leg of the 2024 presidential race, following the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Upcoming events include the South Carolina primary for both parties on February 21, and the Super Tuesday primaries encompassing 14 states on March 3.
