Nikki Haley Announces Candidacy for 2024 Republican Presidential Nomination
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced her candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination at a campaign event in Charleston, South Carolina.[0] Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, is the first woman of color and the fifth woman ever to run for the Republican presidential nomination.[1] Her candidacy is significant not only for her race and gender, but also because she is the first candidate to openly challenge former President Donald Trump for the nomination.
At the event, Haley spoke of her vision for the future. “We’re ready to move past the stale ideas and faded names of the past,” she said. “And we are more than ready for a new generation to lead us into the future.” She challenged Republicans to channel their anger with recent electoral defeats, saying, “If you’re tired of losing, put your trust in a new generation. And if you want to win — not just as a party, but as a country, stand with me.”[2]
Rep. Ralph Norman, an ally of President Trump's who had initially opposed the election of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, gave his endorsement to Haley from South Carolina.[3] Norman characterized Haley as possessing some of the same traits as Trump.[4]
At 51, Haley is the youngest Republican who has shown interest in winning the presidency in 2024.[2] She proposed having “mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old,” a not-so-subtle dig at both Trump and President Biden, who is 80 and 76 respectively.[5] Haley also discussed the placement of a Confederate flag on statehouse grounds and expressed support for a Confederate History Month in schools.[6]
Haley is so far the only GOP challenger to her former boss, and she has shifted her posture toward Trump over the years.[4] Haley originally said she would not challenge Trump for the nomination if he ran in 2024, but changed her mind after he did.[7]
Haley’s first stops on the campaign trail will come immediately following her event in South Carolina.[8] She will be in New Hampshire Thursday and Iowa later in the week, the two states that kick off the Republican nominating schedule.[3] Haley’s presidential bid is not only significant because she is the first candidate to openly challenge Trump, but also because her race and gender are particularly noteworthy due to the limited number of Republican women of color in elected office.
0. “Nikki Haley formally enters 2024 presidential race” Axios, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.axios.com/2023/02/15/nikki-haley-2024-president-run
1. “Nikki Haley Is The First Woman of Color To Run For The Republican Nomination” FiveThirtyEight, 14 Feb. 2023, https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/nikki-haley-is-taking-on-trump/
2. “Haley kicks off 2024 run drawing implicit contrasts with Trump” The Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/15/nikki-haley-presidential-candidate-2024-speech/
3. “Nikki Haley leaps into 2024 GOP presidential primary at packed campaign rally” Fox News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nikki-haley-leaps-2024-gop-presidential-primary-campaign-rally
4. “Nikki Haley launches 2024 presidential run, calling for “new generation” of GOP leadership” CBS News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/nikki-haley-2024-presidential-campaign-launch-south-carolina/
5. “Nikki Haley kicks off WH bid with dig at fogeys Biden, Trump: ‘Faded names of past'” New York Post , 15 Feb. 2023, https://nypost.com/2023/02/15/nikki-haley-kicks-off-gop-white-house-bid-with-packed-rally/
6. “Nikki Haley says states have right to secede from U.S. in 2010 video” New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/us-elections-government/ny-nikki-haley-says-states-can-secede-in-2010-video-20230215-unsjdxlmhbb6vlxyo6vkrf5fdu-story.html
7. “Nikki Haley: video shows Republican candidate saying US states can secede” The Guardian US, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/14/nikki-haley-video-states-secede-secession-republican-south-carolina
8. “Watch live: Nikki Haley kicks off 2024 presidential campaign in South Carolina” CNBC, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/15/nikki-haley-kicks-off-2024-presidential-campaign.html
