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Nikki Haley will drop out of the Republican presidential primary race after a string of losses on Super Tuesday, according to a source familiar with her plans.
Haley is set to appear at a press conference in Charleston, South Carolina, on Wednesday morning, where she is expected to officially suspend her presidential campaign.
The move will ensure Donald Trump clinches the 2024 GOP nomination and sets up a rematch against President Joe Biden in the general election in November.
Context
Haley managed to stop Trump achieving a clean sweep of victories during Super Tuesday after pulling off a shock win in Vermont (50 percent to 46 percent).
This was Haley's second victory in the GOP primary, having previously won Washington, D.C.
Trump dominated the rest of the races, including winning the support of more than three-quarters of Republican voters across multiple states on Super Tuesday.
What We Know
The former South Carolina governor's campaign team said that she will speak from her home state at 10 a.m. ET to deliver remarks, with those close to Haley telling Reuters and Associated Press that the announcement will be her dropping out of the race.
Haley is not planning to endorse Trump in her announcement, and instead will call on the former president to try to gain the support of the more moderate Republican and Independents voters who have backed her campaign.
Despite losing all but one of the races and being severely outperformed in several states, Haley still managed to win more than two million votes nationally on Super Tuesday. However, there is no guarantee that these voters will go on to support Trump come November.
Despite marginal success, Haley leaves the 2024 presidential contest with a symbolic victory, having become the first woman in U.S. history to win a Republican primary when she defeated Trump in Washington, D.C.
Views
Olivia Perez-Cubas, Haley's national campaign spokesperson, said following Super Tuesday's results: "We're honored to have received the support of millions of Americans across the country today, including in Vermont where Nikki became the first Republican woman to win two presidential primary contests.
"Unity is not achieved by simply claiming 'we're united.' Today, in state after state, there remains a large block of Republican primary voters who are expressing deep concerns about Donald Trump. That is not the unity our party needs for success. Addressing those voters' concerns will make the Republican Party and America better."
Taylor Budowich, CEO of the Trump-affiliated Make America Great Again Inc Super Pac: "Congratulations to President Donald Trump for vanquishing his opponents in record time.
"The same movement that powered President Trump to a primary victory will power him to a general election victory. Voters are eager to have the prosperity and safety of the Trump presidency restored."
What Next
The U.S. territory of American Samoa will hold its primary on March 8, followed by the states of Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington on March 12.
The Republican National Convention, where Trump will be confirmed as the 2024 nominee, will take place in Milwaukee in July.
Update 3/6/24, 7:35 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more