Nikki Haley wins Vermont Republican primary marking her first Super Tuesday victory
Nikki Haley won the GOP presidential primary in Vermont on Super Tuesday, marking her second-ever victory against Donald Trump.
Her win — secured with about 50 per cent of votes — marks the second time the former South Carolina governor has won a primary during her campaign and the first time she has won a state.
As of late Tuesday, Mr Trump had won at least 12 Super Tuesday presidential primaries, adding more states to his long list of victories this primary season.
On Sunday, Ms Haley also won the GOP primary in Washington, DC, securing her first primary victory with 62.8 per cent of the vote.
“It’s not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos,” a spokesperson for Ms Haley said in a statement, per the Associated Press.
The former South Carolina governor hosted several events in and around the DC beltway region as she campaigned this past week. She also campaigned heavily in neighbouring Virginia, where Mr Trump still won the presidential primary on Tuesday.
As it stands, Mr Trump looks all but certain to be the GOP candidate again, having already won primaries in California, Iowa, Texas, the US Virgin Islands, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, Michigan, Idaho, Missouri and Virginia.
Following his several wins, Mr Trump declared victory in a rambling speech on Tuesday evening at Mar-a-Lago.
“They call it Super Tuesday for a reason,” the former president said. “This is a big one.”
“They tell me, the pundits and others, that there’s never been one like this ... has never been anything so conclusive,” he added.
Ms Haley has vowed to stay in the presidential race at least through Super Tuesday, despite her repeated defeats throughout the primary season. She affirmed this promise after losing the GOP primary in her home state of South Carolina last month.
“I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run,” she told supporters after the defeat. “I’m a woman of my word.”
“I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” she added.