The former president of the United States, Donald Trump, landed a decisive victory in the South Carolina Republican primary on Saturday, edging closer to securing the party’s official nod for the November election. The win reinforces Trump’s position as the front-runner within the GOP, especially in a state that has long resonated with his distinctive campaign tone and messaging.
Projections from multiple major outlets indicate that Trump, 77, defeated Nikki Haley, 52, a South Carolina native who had been expected to command broader support. Early tallies show a clear gap between the two, with Trump taking a commanding lead as results continue to roll in from a state that once spotlighted Haley’s strongest political ambitions.
The New York Times estimates Trump at about 61 percent of the vote to Haley’s 38 percent, while Fox News reports roughly 64 percent for Trump and 35 percent for Haley. Other outlets echo similar figures, underscoring that South Carolina’s 50 delegates, awarded on a winner-takes-all basis, will add momentum to Trump’s delegate count. He has already secured victories in three states, whereas Haley has not yet claimed any wins.
Thus far, neither candidate has publicly commented on the final results. An hour before polling stations closed, Haley reaffirmed her stance, saying she would not bow out: “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not quitting or giving up; I’m fighting and I’m winning.”
She has consistently signaled an intent to stay in the race at least through the so-called Super Tuesday, on March 5, a day when more than 800 delegates are up for grabs and widely viewed as a pivotal milestone in narrowing the field for the nomination.
Today’s outcome is particularly painful for Haley in a state where she previously governed from 2011 to 2017. The result may prompt strategic reassessments within her campaign as it recalibrates after this setback, which weakens early advantages and complicates the path forward toward achieving the party’s nomination.
Analysts note that South Carolina’s political landscape has long favored Trump’s approach, a blend of aggressive messaging and direct, media-savvy outreach. The state’s primary results not only affect delegates but also help shape the broader contest’s momentum, influencing fundraising dynamics, donor confidence, and campaign tone as the field moves toward a crucial phase on Super Tuesday and beyond. In the wake of the vote, campaign strategists on both sides will likely scrutinize turnout patterns, demographic shifts, and the effectiveness of public communications in rural and urban counties alike, all of which feed into the ongoing narrative of who might clinch the nomination and contend for the presidency come November.