Former President Trump experienced a serious split in votes in New Mexico’s primary election on Tuesday, a trend that has been observed in previous voting contests this cycle.
Although Trump secured a substantial majority of the GOP primary vote at nearly 85%, the remaining 15% was distributed among other Republican presidential candidates who have suspended their campaigns, including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and an “uncommitted” option.
Nikki Haley and Chris Christie
Haley received a noteworthy 8.6% of the vote, while Christie garnered 2.6%, Ramaswamy obtained nearly 1%, and 3.3% of voters chose the “uncommitted” option, according to results from Decision Desk HQ. This development is noteworthy, as Trump has consistently won the majority of GOP primaries this cycle.
Political observers have been monitoring Haley’s performance, particularly after her announcement last month that she would support Trump over President Biden in the November general election.
Despite her endorsement, Haley has continued to receive tens of thousands of primary votes in various states, sometimes approaching or exceeding 20% of the vote. In key battleground states like Arizona and Pennsylvania, she secured over 100,000 votes earlier this year.
Political analysts interpret these numbers as a sign of apparent frustrations within the Republican Party regarding Trump’s candidacy as their presumptive nominee. According to Ashley Davis, a Republican strategist, these votes represent an important segment of conservative Republicans who align with Haley’s policies and political style.
Trump will need to win over these voters to secure victory in the general election. Despite Trump’s dismissal of Haley’s primary performance, her persistent support suggests a particular segment of the GOP base is not entirely satisfied with Trump’s candidacy.
