South Carolina 2024 Republican primary results: Trump projected to beat Haley, extending winning streak

Former President Donald Trump will beat former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in her home state's Republican primary on Saturday, ABC News projects based on analysis of the exit poll.

That win adds to Trump's streak so far, all but cementing his grip on the Republican presidential nomination -- ahead of a likely matchup against President Joe Biden in November -- and dealing Haley a painful setback with another double-digit defeat.

Trump had long been expected to run away with South Carolina's primary, given the polling, but his win, now real, illustrates the long shot odds Haley faces as the sole serious challenger left to the former president.

It's unclear where Haley will go next. She has lost in every state or territory that has voted but has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday on March 5, when many states cast ballots at once and award 36% of all available GOP delegates.

After his victory, Trump on Saturday sought to cast the nomination as virtually assured, contending that he now enjoys unprecedented unity among Republicans, despite the primary fight he's been in.

"There's never been a spirit like this," he said. "And I just want to say that. I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now."

Haley, for her part, reiterated that she isn't going anywhere -- yet.

"There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative," she said after her loss.

"I'm a woman of my word. I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. South Carolina has spoken. We're the fourth state to do so. In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate," she said. "And I have a duty to give them that choice."

State significance

South Carolina held its 2024 presidential primaries on two different days in February, with Biden winning the Democratic race on Feb. 2 and the Republican race on Saturday.

Residents were able to vote in either primary, but only in one. There were 50 Republican delegates up for grabs on Saturday.

Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Voters must have brought a photo ID to their polling place.

Early voting was held from from Feb. 12 until Thursday for the Republican primary. Early voting centers were open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

Qualified voters -- including those who have a physical disability and are age 65 and older -- could also request an absentee ballot. The ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. local time on the day of the primary.

South Carolina traditionally holds the first-in-the-South primaries for Republicans and Democrats.

Trump won the state in the 2020 general election, with 55% of the vote.

Trump also won the state's 2016 Republican primary -- the last seriously contested GOP race there -- with 32.5% of the vote. He went on to win the 2016 general election there by 14 points over Hillary Clinton, increasing the margin for Republicans compared to the party's two previous nominees.