Nikki Haley expected to drop out of presidential race

Nikki Haley will suspend her presidential campaign Wednesday after being soundly defeated across the country on Super Tuesday, according to people familiar with her decision, leaving Donald Trump as the last remaining major candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination.

Three people with direct knowledge who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly confirmed Haley’s decision ahead of an announcement scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Her departure clears Trump to focus solely on his likely rematch in November with President Joe Biden. Haley notched primary wins in recent days in D.C. and Vermont, but the former president is on track to reach the necessary 1,215 delegates to clinch the Republican nomination later this month.

Big Super Tuesday for both Trump and Biden

With over a dozen U.S. states and one territory voting, Super Tuesday offers the largest number of delegates in the race for both the Republican and Democratic primaries, and as expected, both Donald Trump and President Joe Biden did very well.

Haley’s departure would mark a painful blow to voters, donors and Republican Party officials who opposed Trump and his fiery brand of “Make America Great Again” politics. She was especially popular among moderates and college-educated voters, constituencies that play a pivotal role in general elections, but represent a minority of Republican primary voters.

Haley is not planning to endorse Trump in her Wednesday announcement, according to the people with knowledge of her plans. Instead, she is expected to encourage him to earn the support of the coalition of moderate Republicans and independent voters who supported her.