Trump Handily Defeats Haley in South Carolina Primary

Former President Donald Trump defeated former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in South Carolina's 2024 Republican presidential primary on Saturday.

The Details: News outlets across the spectrum called the race immediately after polls closed at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. As of early Sunday, with 99% of the vote in, Trump had earned roughly 60%. 

For Context: Trump has won every Republican primary in the 2024 election cycle so far. Haley, who formerly governed South Carolina, is Trump’s only remaining notable challenger in the race but was not expected to win the state. Despite polls currently showing no electoral path to victory for Haley, she has maintained that she will not be suspending her campaign.

Key Quotes: During his victory speech, Trump said, "I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now." Haley said in a speech Saturday night, "I said earlier this week, that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president. I'm a woman of my word." Of her vote share, she said, "Forty percent is not some tiny group. There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative."

How The Media Covered It: Media across the spectrum highlighted the ease of Trump’s victory. Reuters (Center bias) noted that Trump did not mention Haley by name in his victory speech.