Trump wins US Virgin Islands caucuses, extending Haley's losing streak

Former President Donald Trump will win the U.S. Virgin Islands' Republican caucuses, which were held on Thursday, ABC News reports, based on the results from the state party.

As a territory, the U.S. Virgin Islands don't get to vote in the 2024 presidential election but residents do get to help decide the presidential nominees -- though their races attract relatively minuscule vote totals compared to state races.

Both Nikki Haley -- who has lost in three states so far -- and Trump were on the ballot, and both made a point of virtually addressing or speaking with Republicans there.

Caucusgoers used ranked-choice voting, and a candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote received all of the available delegates. As of Thursday night, Trump earned about 180 votes compared to Haley's approximately 60.

The islands have 12 delegate votes to award to Democrats and four to award to Republicans. Trump won all four.

The territory's Democratic caucuses will be June 8.

Territory's significance

In 2020, President Joe Biden won 91% of the votes in the Democratic caucuses.

In 2016, the last time contested Republican caucuses were held, former President Trump lost out to candidates including Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio -- and the "uncommitted" category.

The GOP's caucus date this year was moved up and cut into the early nominating calendar set by the national party, triggering a penalty -- reducing the number of delegates from nine to four.

However, according to Virgin Islands GOP Executive Director Dennis Lennox, the local party had planned to allocate nine delegates on Thursday night and hoped they would still be seated at the Republican National Convention this summer