Tracing Nikki Haley's presidential campaign as she drops out despite defying expectations at every turn

6 highlights of Nikki Haley's presidential campaign

Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley exited the race on Wednesday, March 5, after former President Donald Trump nearly swept away the Super Tuesday primaries. "The time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets," the former UN Ambassador said, addressing her supporters in her home state, South Carolina. Here are six key highlights since her announcement to run in the 2024 GOP presidential primary against the former President.

1. First challenger to enter 2024 GOP presidential race against Trump

Haley was the first major GOP candidate to challenge Trump's 2024 presidential bid. According to USA Today, she entered the race a year ago on February 14, 2024, through a video message on X (then Twitter) saying, "I'm Nikki Haley, and I'm running for president." In the announcement video, she refrained from explicitly criticizing Trump and instead called out Joe Biden and the Democrats. However, she failed to keep up the momentum when the primary competition became a 13-person race by mid-August 2023.

2. Robust backing from donors

Calls for Haley to quit the race against Trump intensified after her failures in Iowa and New Hampshire. But her determination to continue in the race was aided by solid campaign donations. According to the Associated Press, the former South Carolina Governor outraised the former President in January with $11.5 million and $12 million from her allied PAC. While Trump's campaign raised $8.8 million the same month, and his super PAC brought in $7.3 million. The strong cash flow helped her to come this far in the race when all other candidates dropped out in between.

3. First woman to win a GOP primary in US history

Haley made history by becoming the first woman in the history of the United States to win a Republican primary contest. After consecutive defeats to Trump, the former UN ambassador tasted victory in the Washington, DC primary, securing 63% to her opponent's 33% vote share. She also had a surprise victory in the Super Tuesday primaries in Vermont. Though Haley is not the first GOP woman to enter a presidential primary race, her victories marked a major step for other women in the GOP. Elizabeth Dole, Michele Bachmann, and Carly Fiorina, in 2000, 2012, and 2016, respectively, are other Republican women who had run for President.

4. First woman to face a former president as a major party candidate

Haley is also the first woman to compete against a former president who is in the spotlight despite exiting the White House. Running against Trump, who has a strong dominance in the party, clearly proved a challenge for her. Only a handful of defeated ex-presidents, including Ulysses S Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Martin Van Buren, and Millard Fillmore, have made a re-election attempt, but they failed. Though some of them had women opponents, none of them were a major party candidate.

5. Resolute amid Trump's personal attacks

Haley had been prey to constant personal insults from her opponent, Trump, throughout the campaign. However, it took a turn when the former President directed attacks on the absence of her deployed husband, Michale Haley, in her campaign trail. Speaking at a rally in February, the former President questioned her husband's whereabouts, asking, "What happened to her husband? What happened to her husband? Where is he? He's gone! He knew. He knew." In addition, Trump also constantly accused her of being funded by Biden donors, and he even threatened to ban her donors from his MAGA camp. Trump often addressed her with the nickname 'birdbrain.'

6. First Indian American to reach Super Tuesday

Haley carved another history among her many firsts by becoming the first Indian-origin American to reach the crucial Super Tuesday. She was born to Sikh parents who immigrated from the Indian state of Punjab. Announcing her presidential bid in February 2023, Haley said, "I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants who reminded my brothers, my sister, and me every single day how blessed we were to live in this country." Moreover, she is the sole Indian American presidential candidate who appeared on the ballot in over 20 states. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was another Indian American to compete in the 2024 GOP primary race, but he exited after the Iowa caucuses.