Nikki Haley
Nimarata Nikki Haley (née Randhawa; born January 20, 1972)[1][2][3] is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 116th governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 and as the 29th U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from January 2017 to December 2018.[4] A Republican, Haley is the first Indian American to serve in a presidential cabinet.[5] She was a candidate in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries. Her victory in the Washington, D.C. primary on March 3, 2024 made her the first woman ever to win a Republican Party presidential primary contest.[6]
Nikki Haley
Haley joined her family's clothing business before serving as treasurer and then president of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2004 and served three terms. In 2010, during her third term, she was elected governor of South Carolina. Haley was South Carolina's first female governor and the second U.S. governor of Indian descent, after Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. During her time as governor, she received national attention for leading the state's response to the 2015 Charleston church shooting.[7][8][9]
In January 2017, Haley resigned as governor to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in the administration of Donald Trump.[10] The U.S. Senate confirmed her by a vote of 96–4. As U.N. ambassador, Haley was notable for her advocacy for Israel, her defense of the Trump administration's withdrawal of the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate agreement, and her withdrawal of the U.S. from the United Nations Human Rights Council. She stepped down as ambassador on December 31, 2018.[11]
Haley announced her campaign for President of the United States in February 2023.[12] After the Iowa caucuses, Haley and Trump became the only remaining major candidates in the Republican primaries.[13] She campaigned directly against Trump for almost two months, defeating him in the District of Columbia and Vermont primaries. After being defeated in Super Tuesday contests in multiple states, Haley suspended her campaign on March 6, 2024.[14] On 15 April, the Hudson Institute announced Haley would join the think-tank as the next Walter P. Stern Chair.[15]
Early career
After graduating from college, Haley worked for FCR Corporation, a waste management and recycling company, before joining her family's clothing business as its bookkeeper[32] and chief financial officer.[33] After she married Michael Haley in 1996,[34] she became active in civic affairs. In 1998, she was named to the board of directors of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce. She was named to the board of directors of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce in 2003. Haley became treasurer of the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2003, and president in 2004.[35]
Haley chaired the Lexington Gala to raise funds for a local hospital.[36] She also served on the Lexington Medical Foundation, Lexington County Sheriff's Foundation, and West Metro Republican Women.[37] She was the president of the South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, and was chair for the 2006 Friends of Scouting Leadership Division campaign.[38]
South Carolina House of Representatives (2005–2011)
Campaigns
In 2004, Haley ran for the South Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 87 in Lexington County. She ran in the Republican primary on a platform of education reform and property tax relief.[39][40] Initially, she ran because she believed that incumbent Republican state representative Larry Koon, who was the longest-serving legislator in the South Carolina Statehouse at the time, was not going to seek reelection. However, Koon entered the race just before the filing deadline.[41] Nevertheless, Haley stayed in the race.
In the primary election, Koon received 42 percent of the vote, Haley received 40 percent, and David Perry received 17 percent.[42] As no candidate received a majority of the vote (50 percent or higher), Haley and Koon advanced to a runoff election on June 22.[43] In the runoff, she defeated Koon 55 percent to 45 percent.[44] After his loss, Koon accused Haley of running a smear campaign, which she denied.[45] She ran unopposed in the general election.[46]
Haley became the first Indian-American to hold office in South Carolina.[47] She was unopposed for re-election to a second term in 2006.[48] In 2008, she won re-election with 83 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Edgar Gomez, who garnered only 17 percent.[49][50]
In 2012, Haley credited Hillary Clinton with inspiring her to run for office; in an interview she said:[51]
Post-presidential politics
On 15 April 2024, it was announced that Haley would join the Hudson Institute, a conservative think-tank. [290] In a statement released on the same day, she described the group’s work as “critical” and said she "looked forward to partnering with them to defend the principles that make America the greatest country in the world”. She will serve as the next Walter P. Stern Chair.[291]
Awards and honors
Haley was inducted into the Order of the Palmetto in 2010.[304] She has two honorary degrees: a Doctorate of Humanities from Clemson University (2018)[305] and a Doctorate of Public Service from the University of South Carolina (2015).[306][307] In 2013, Haley received an honorary 4th-dan black belt in Taekwondo.[308][309][310]
She has also received awards from India Abroad,[311] the International Republican Institute,[312][313] Christians United for Israel,[314] the Foundation for Defense of Democracies,[315] the Hudson Institute,[316] the Independent Women's Forum,[317] UN Watch,[318] the Simon Wiesenthal Center,[319] the American Enterprise Institute,[320] and the World Jewish Congress.[321]
