Trump finished a distant 3rd in the nation’s capital in 2016
Republican voters in Washington D.C. are next in line to choose their preferred candidate for the top spot on this year’s GOP presidential ticket. For former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, this presents a prime opportunity to secure her first significant win in the primaries.
The D.C. primary will span three days over the upcoming weekend, starting Friday and running through Sunday evening. The city’s 19 delegates are up for grabs, with all going to the candidate who earns over 50% of the vote. If no candidate reaches that threshold, delegates will be distributed proportionally. Candidates must achieve at least 15% of the vote to be eligible for delegates.
Despite being a heavily Democratic city, Washington D.C. poses a challenge for former President Donald Trump’s quest to maintain his perfect record in the GOP primary.
According to the Associated Press, the former president secured victory in Washington D.C. in an uncontested race during the 2020 election.
However, in the 2016 primary, he lagged behind Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and former Ohio Governor John Kasich, finishing in a distant third place.
When approached for comment by US Newzs Digital, the Trump campaign sought to downplay the significance of the upcoming primary contests.
A spokesperson for the campaign stated, “Republican voters have consistently delivered resounding victories for President Trump in every primary contest, and this race is essentially over. Our focus now shifts to Joe Biden and the general election.”
Trump has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the primary season, winning in states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the Virgin Islands, South Carolina, and Michigan.
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley remains the sole contender in the GOP field willing to challenge the former president, despite her recent loss in her home state of South Carolina.
The primary in the nation’s capital stands out as one of the more distinctive events on the election calendar. Voting begins on Friday morning and extends until Sunday at 7 p.m. Notably, early voting and absentee balloting are not permitted. Results aren’t immediately released but are instead announced by the district’s party officials approximately an hour after the polls close, as reported by the Associated Press.
This primary occurs just before Super Tuesday, during which 15 states will hold GOP contests, offering a total of 865 delegates.
At present, Trump maintains a significant lead in the GOP primary, while President Biden similarly dominates the Democratic side. This sets the stage for a likely rematch between the two candidates from the 2020 campaign.