Former President Donald Trump secured victory in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation Republican primary, while President Joe Biden emerged as the winner of the Democrat primary, albeit with reliance on write-in votes and the absence of active campaigning in the state.
In an exclamation on Truth Social, Trump criticized Nikki Haley’s performance, who had aimed to secure a victory in New Hampshire. Despite her efforts, Trump prevailed in a rare consecutive win in the first-in-the-nation caucus and primary states, with a margin of victory exceeding 11 points and garnering nearly 55% support. His substantial victory was affirmed with around 94% of the votes counted.
Trump celebrated his achievement, emphasizing the record-breaking number of votes cast in the New Hampshire primary across both Democratic and Republican sides.
Following Trump’s decisive win in Iowa last week, the competitive field dwindled significantly, while Haley’s attempt to gain momentum in her home state of South Carolina next month fell short.
Trump’s victory in New Hampshire positions him as the uncontested favorite for the upcoming Nevada caucus on February 8. Although Haley is on the ballot for the state-run Nevada primary on February 6, no GOP delegates are at stake in that primary.
Haley addressed her supporters soon after the polls closed and the race was called, expressing her determination to continue the fight, despite Trump’s victory. Trump swiftly responded via Truth Social, labeling her as “DELUSIONAL” and highlighting her third-place finish in Iowa.
On the Democratic side, supporters of President Joe Biden initiated a write-in campaign on his behalf, as the contest awarded no delegates due to its violation of national party rules.
With Trump’s growing dominance in the GOP primaries, some Republicans may intensify calls for Haley to withdraw from the race. However, her campaign released a memo affirming their intention to press forward until “Super Tuesday” in early March, when Republicans in 15 states and one territory cast their votes simultaneously.
The next GOP primary after Nevada is scheduled for February 24 in South Carolina, where Trump has secured endorsements from the majority of the state’s Republican figures, and opinion polls indicate his substantial lead. Despite Haley’s ties to the state, her path to victory remains challenging.
Haley had previously focused much of her campaign on New Hampshire, anticipating a more moderate electorate that might offer her the best chance to defeat Trump. Nevertheless, New Hampshire marked the first one-on-one contest between Trump and Haley after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, once regarded as Trump’s primary challenger, withdrew from the race and endorsed Trump.
