Former President Donald Trump will defeat former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in her home state’s Republican primary, ABC News projects based on analysis of the exit poll.

That win will add to Trump’s streak so far in the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

Haley, who has lost in every state or territory that has voted, has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday on March 5, when many states cast ballots at once. She is Trump’s last major remaining challenger for the nomination ahead of a likely matchup against President Joe Biden in November.

South Carolina held its 2024 presidential primaries on two different days in February, with Biden winning the Democratic race on Feb. 2 and the Republican race on Saturday.

Residents were able to vote in either primary, but only in one. There were 50 Republican delegates up for grabs on Saturday.

Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Voters must have brought a photo ID to their polling place.

Early voting was held from from Feb. 12 until Thursday for the Republican primary. Early voting centers were open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

Qualified voters — including those who have a physical disability and are age 65 and older — could also request an absentee ballot. The ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. local time on the day of the primary.

PHOTO: Supporters of Republican presidential candidate and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley cheer in Clemson, S.C., Feb. 20, 2024.

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley cheer following her remarks during a campaign visit at Clemson University ahead of the Republican presidential primary election in Clemson, S.C., Feb. 20, 2024.

Alyssa Pointer/Reuters

State significance

South Carolina traditionally holds the first-in-the-South primaries for Republicans and Democrats.

While Haley has said she wanted to show her campaign has built momentum against Trump, he remains strong in polls across the country that are tracked by 538.

Trump won the state in the 2020 general election, with 55% of the vote.

Trump also won the state’s 2016 Republican primary — the last seriously contested GOP race there — with 32.5% of the vote. He went on to win the 2016 general election there by 14 points over Hillary Clinton, increasing the margin for Republicans compared to the party’s two previous nominees.



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