In the annals of Republican presidential endeavors, the absence of a victorious woman in any state’s primary or caucus remains glaring; only a couple of women in the contemporary GOP landscape have secured a delegate.
Embarking on a journey that echoes historic potential, Nikki Haley’s pursuit of the presidency manifests as a significant stride for women within the Republican Party. As the primary season unfolds, her steady rise, positioning her as a Republican alternative to Donald Trump, holds the promise of breaking new ground.
Unlike the Democratic counterpart, where Hillary Clinton triumphed in the 2008 New Hampshire primary, no Republican woman has clinched victory in a presidential primary or caucus. Although Haley’s aspirations for a major party nomination seem distant, a narrow window opens as she contends with Trump in the New Hampshire primary on January 23, with recent polls indicating a single-digit gap.
Should Haley secure success in New Hampshire, she would not only outpace Trump but also etch her name as the first woman of color to win a state primary—a remarkable achievement.
Even without a state-level triumph, Haley is poised to achieve a historic milestone by becoming the first Republican woman to secure more than one delegate in the modern history of the party.
A former governor of South Carolina and ambassador to the United Nations, Haley entered the 2024 GOP primary field early, vowing to challenge established norms and bring the distinctive strengths of female leadership to the White House. Striking a balance, she sidesteps liberal gender politics, downplaying the influence of her race and gender on her political stance before a GOP primary audience.
In February of the previous year, Haley’s entrance marked her as one of the few high-profile women seeking the Republican presidential nomination and the first Asian-American woman to do so. Her participation in a presidential debate last August made her the 12th woman to engage in such a forum in the nation’s lengthy history of presidential politics, and only the third Republican woman.
For advocates of increased representation of Republican women in politics, who often grapple with a party resistant to diversity and equity considerations, Haley’s candidacy signifies progress in both recruitment and visibility.
Political strategist Rina Shah, emphasizing the significance of Haley’s rise, underscores the shift from single-digit support to major endorsements based on performance—an endorsement rooted in meritocracy.
As the Iowa caucuses approach, Haley, with an anticipated 16 percent of the vote, could secure a record for Republican women by garnering a noteworthy delegate count. These delegates will represent Haley at the party’s national convention, despite the primary likely being concluded by then. The candidate amassing the majority of delegates will secure the nomination.
In New Hampshire, Haley’s momentum could persist in accumulating delegates, as recent polls suggest a narrowing gap between her and Trump. While not expected to secure delegates in Nevada, Haley expresses optimism about South Carolina, leveraging the momentum gained in New Hampshire.
It’s noteworthy that in 2016, GOP candidate Carly Fiorina secured a single delegate in Iowa, and in 2012, Michele Bachmann won a delegate in Texas. In 1964, former Sen. Margaret Chase Smith secured delegate votes at party conventions, albeit under different rules.
Kelly Dittmar, director of research at CAWP, highlights that the more extended Haley remains in the race, the greater the potential for her to make history for Republican women. This extended exposure could significantly impact the Republican electorate’s perception of a woman as a formidable contender for the presidency.
As for Haley, the prospect of creating history is approached with cautious optimism rather than overt embracement, a calculated stance in consideration of its reception among various audiences.