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Following the conclusion of the New Hampshire primary, political attention is now directed towards the upcoming delegate-rich opportunity in Nevada. Notably, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, despite her connection to South Carolina, will not feature on the Nevada primary ballot.
The backdrop to this unique electoral scenario can be traced back to the aftermath of the 2020 Democratic presidential race. After Pete Buttigieg, the third-place finisher in the New Hampshire primary, raised concerns about inconsistencies in caucus result tabulation, Nevada lawmakers responded by passing legislation. This new law mandated that primary races be conducted by the state itself rather than political parties.
In light of this change, Nevada is now obligated to organize primary races for both the Democratic and Republican Parties. However, neither party is compelled to utilize the results from these state-run primaries for delegate allocation in the presidential nomination process.
Consequently, the state-managed primary is scheduled for February 6, while the GOP is concurrently planning a caucus on February 8 to determine the actual allocation of delegates. Adding an additional layer of complexity, the Nevada Republican Party has made the decision that candidates participating in the state-run primary will be ineligible to caucus on February 8.
For reasons that may seem somewhat unclear, Nikki Haley opted to be included on the state ballot in October, even though this move doesn’t provide her with an avenue to accumulate any delegates. The caucus on February 8 will exclusively feature Donald Trump’s name, practically ensuring that his campaign will secure all 26 of the state’s delegates.
Looking ahead, South Carolina becomes the next crucial battleground after Nevada. This state holds particular significance for Nikki Haley, given her upbringing, educational background, and tenure as governor. As of early January, when the field was more crowded, Trump maintained a substantial lead over his former UN ambassador in polling for the South Carolina primary. The dynamics of this race, however, may evolve as the primary date approaches and the field narrows down to two candidates.