RENO, Nev. (Diya TV) — In Nevada’s presidential primary, Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, faced no significant opposition but ended up losing to “none of these candidates.” Despite being the only active contender on the ballot, Haley faced a stinging rebuke from voters, marking her third consecutive loss in an early state primary contest.
Even though Haley’s campaign indicated that the results wouldn’t sway her determination, the outcome reflects a significant setback for her aspirations. The absence of former President Donald Trump on the ballot didn’t alter the outcome, as Trump is set to participate in party-run caucuses on Thursday.
Haley’s decision not to invest resources or campaign extensively in Nevada was influenced by her belief that the state’s Republican Party favored Trump. This sentiment was echoed by other GOP contenders who saw the process as rigged. Despite Haley’s second-place finish in New Hampshire and third-place finish in Iowa, her campaign maintains optimism about her path to the nomination, focusing on upcoming contests, notably in South Carolina.
The Nevada primary sparked confusion among voters due to its dual process of primaries and caucuses. While the primary allowed for early voting and mail-in ballots, the GOP opted for caucuses to control the delegate allocation, a move that sidelined candidates participating only in the primary.
Nevada Republicans disregarded the primary results, as the party decided to award delegates solely based on Thursday’s caucuses, where Trump is the frontrunner. This fragmented process, a result of recent legal changes, underscored the challenges and complexities within the state’s electoral system.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, President Joe Biden secured a victory in Nevada’s presidential primary, further solidifying his path to the party’s nomination. The state’s primary, now second in the Democratic calendar, signals a diverse electorate’s influence in the nomination process.
