
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley suffered a significant setback in her presidential campaign after a disappointing performance in the Iowa caucuses. Despite recent momentum, Haley only managed to win in one county, Johnson County, by the slimmest of margins.
Former President Donald Trump maintained his frontrunner position by winning in all but one of Iowa’s 99 counties. Trump’s only loss came in Johnson County, where Haley secured a victory by a single vote. Trump’s dominance was evident as he easily won the other 98 counties.
With 51 percent of the vote, Trump emerged as the clear winner in Iowa. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis secured second place with 21 percent, while Haley trailed behind with 19 percent. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump after coming in fourth.
Up to the caucuses, polls consistently showed Trump as the favorite, with a significant lead over Haley. Despite gaining momentum in recent weeks, Haley’s third-place finish was a bigger blow than expected. She had surpassed DeSantis in an Iowa poll just four days before the caucuses, and her campaign received a boost when Chris Christie dropped out and endorsed her.
Haley’s campaign steadily gained support, with her performance in the presidential debates and endorsements from influential figures like Chris Christie and Charles Koch. However, the Iowa caucuses highlighted the need for Haley to make significant gains if she hopes to secure the Republican nomination.
While Iowa’s predictive power in determining the party’s nominee has been inconsistent, Haley recognizes the importance of performing well in upcoming states. New Hampshire, where the primary will be held on January 23, is expected to be a favorable battleground for Haley. Polls indicate that she performs better than Trump among independent voters and has secured the endorsement of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu. However, she still trails Trump by 14 points in the state.
To make up for her loss in Iowa, Haley must also focus on her home state of South Carolina, where the primary will occur on February 24. Trump currently enjoys a significant 30-point lead over Haley in South Carolina, according to RealClearPolling averages.
While Haley has declared the primary a “two-person race” between her and Trump, DeSantis’ strong performance in Iowa suggests she faces a tough challenge. Although DeSantis held only a narrow advantage over Haley, his campaign celebrated the results as they overcame various obstacles. Despite their hurdles, DeSantis remains a viable threat to Trump’s dominance.
The Iowa caucuses have set the stage for an intense and closely contested Republican primary. Haley’s disappointing performance highlights the need for her to make significant gains in upcoming states to remain a viable contender for the nomination.