In Nevada’s GOP primary on Tuesday, contender Nikki Haley lost despite former President Donald Trump not being on the ballot.
Voters had the option of selecting “None of These Candidates,” which garnered nearly twice as many votes than the former South Carolina governor could muster.
Nevada has a complex election system in which the parties may hold a primary and a caucus. Delegates to the nominating convention are assigned in the caucus. The primary is essentially an opportunity for candidates to gauge voter interest.
Haley’s election campaign staff admitted that the defeat in Nevada was not unexpected as she did not campaign in the Silver State and has not invested campaign funds into challenging Trump.
“Even Donald Trump knows that when you play penny slots the house wins. We didn’t bother to play a game rigged for Trump. We’re full steam ahead in South Carolina and beyond,” campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said of the results.
Haley’s campaign manager believed that the state was already sold out to Trump and that there was no viable way to be competitive.
“In terms of Nevada, we have not spent a dime nor an ounce of energy on Nevada,” Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney said. “So Nevada is not and has never been our focus. We made the decision early on that we were not going to pay $55,000 to a Trump entity that, you know, to participate in a process that was rigged for Trump.”
The Associated Press reported that “None of These Candidates” received 63.2% of the vote against 30.5% for Haley, with 88% of votes counted. Former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who are not running for president, received 4% and 1.5%, respectively.
Trump went on the offensive as the results began to show Haley would be defeated.
“A bad night for Nikki Haley. Losing by almost 30 points in Nevada to ‘None of These Candidates.’ Watch, she’ll soon claim Victory!” Trump posted to Truth Social as the votes came in.
Senior campaign advisor for the Trump campaign Chris LaCivita also took the opportunity to take a shot at Haley and the next GOP primary in her home state of South Carolina.
“More embarrassment coming in South Carolina …the [Nikki Haley] Delusional Tour continues,’ LaCivita posted to social media, as reported by Fox News.
The South Carolina primary will take place on February 24. Polling provided by RacetotheWH.com indicates a double-digit lead for Trump. The latest aggregate of polls on the site shows Trump with a 61-to-31.3% advantage over Haley. However, Haley has shown no signs of dropping out of the race regardless of the outcome in the Palmetto State.
“She’s sticking in to be the alternative. She’s raising massive amounts of money, including from new donors,” said Alex Stroman, a South Carolina Republican strategist, per The Hill. “I think her endgame is to be the Republican nominee.”
Texas Republicans have, by and large, endorsed Trump for the nomination, as reported by The Dallas Express. The Texas primary will be held on March 5, commonly known as “Super Tuesday,” on which 15 other states will also hold primaries.