The Unconventional Loss of Nikki Haley in the Nevada Republican Primary of 2024

The Nevada Republican Primary of 2024 witnessed an unexpected turn of events when Nikki Haley, the only remaining Republican candidate, finished second to “none of these candidates.” This unconventional outcome was the result of a well-orchestrated effort by Trump supporters to prevent Haley from claiming victory, despite the primary not allocating any GOP delegates.

The Nevada primary marked the first time that all registered voters received a primary ballot in the mail. Trump supporters, including caucus captains, encouraged their followers to check the box for “none of these candidates” instead of voting for Haley. Guadalupe Reyes, a Trump caucus captain and state Assembly candidate for Nevada District 41, openly admitted to this strategy. “I tell people if they want to vote for Trump, they have to go to the caucus and to vote none of the above,” she said.

Haley, who was listed on the primary ballot, did not invest resources or campaign in Nevada due to her decision not to participate in the caucus contest. Her campaign manager, Betsy Ankney, criticized the Nevada state Republican Party for rigging the contest in favor of Trump. “We made the decision early on that we were not going to pay $55,000 to a Trump entity to participate in a process that was rigged for Trump,” Ankney stated during a press call prior to the primary.

Other Republican contenders agreed with the Haley campaign’s assessment. Olivia Perez-Cubas, a campaign representative for Haley, expressed her stance in a statement. “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.”

Despite this setback, Haley’s campaign has outlined its strategy for Super Tuesday on March 5. Ankney revealed that Haley will focus on the 11 out of 16 Super Tuesday states that allow independents to participate. Haley’s campaign is actively courting independent voters, who make up a significant portion of the registered voters in some states, such as Massachusetts, where they account for 60%.

The Nevada results could potentially impact Haley’s campaign going forward. While she has expressed her intention to stay in the race through South Carolina and Super Tuesday, some Haley allies have expressed concerns about the potential embarrassment of a loss in her home state, where both Trump and Haley will be on the same ballot. These allies are reportedly urging Haley to consider an exit before the South Carolina primary to avoid further damage to her political future beyond 2024.

In conclusion, the Nevada Republican Primary of 2024 presented an unconventional outcome when Nikki Haley finished second to “none of these candidates.” This result was the consequence of a well-coordinated effort by Trump supporters to prevent Haley from claiming victory, despite the primary not allocating any GOP delegates. Haley’s campaign has since shifted its focus to Super Tuesday, where it aims to appeal to independent voters in several states. The Nevada results, however, could potentially impact Haley’s campaign going forward and raise pressure on her to consider an exit before the South Carolina primary.