Nikki Haley beats Donald Trump in DC primary

It was Haley's first victory over Donald Trump

(Image credit: Getty Images)

What happened?

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley won Washington, D.C.'s Republican primary on Sunday, beating former President Donald Trump 63% to 33%. It was Haley's first victory over Trump, who won Saturday's caucuses in Idaho and Missouri.

Who said what?

"It's not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos," Haley's campaign said. Trump said on Truth Social that he "purposely stayed away from the D.C. vote because it is the 'Swamp,' with very few delegates," adding that "Birdbrain spent all of her time, money and effort there."

The commentary

The Trump campaign predictably cried "swamp swamp swamp," but a "whole lot of people who worked for Trump — who know him and his administration best — rejected him," GOP strategist Doug Heye said in a post on X. D.C. was an important "symbolic win" for Haley, Reuters said, but she "still faces near-impossible odds."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

What next?

Haley earned 19 delegates in D.C., bringing her total to 43 of 1,215 delegates needed to win the GOP nomination. Trump has 247. Another 874 delegates are up for grabs in 15 states and one U.S. territory on Super Tuesday.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.