POLITICS
When and where is the next Republican presidential primary? Date and state
Former President Donald Trump has taken a commanding delegate lead before the next showdown in New Hampshire.
In the wake of the Iowa caucus, where Donald Trump cemented his position as frontrunner for the Republican nomination, attention is now turning to the first presidential primary. The next critical showdown in the Republican primary race is set to take place on 23 January in the state of New Hampshire.
The fallout from Iowa forced both Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson to drop out, leaving just Trump, Nikki Haley, and Ron DeSantis. Another poor showing from the Flroida governor could force him out too, while Haley will need to take all of his support to come close to beating Trump.
It’s certainly looking like Trump will be the Republican candidate against Joe Biden.
“[Haley] doesn’t need to win in New Hampshire, but she does have to finish strongly so the narrative coming out of New Hampshire is that it is a two-person race,” said Jim Merrill, a New Hampsire Republican strategist.
What happened in New Hampshire in previous primary votes?
In 2016, the New Hampshire Republican primary saw a surprising victory for Donald Trump, solidifying his status as a formidable candidate after being a complete outsider. The state has a history of sometimes diverging from the outcomes in Iowa, highlighting the independent-minded nature of its electorate. There was no vote for the 2020 election.
Four years prior, the primary showcased the resilience of Mitt Romney, who secured a decisive win after a close second-place finish in Iowa.
How do primaries work?
Voters cast secret ballots to choose their preferred candidate. Results are determined by the number of votes each candidate receives, which are then turned into delegates. The person with the most delegates at the Republican convention then becomes the party’s candidate for the general election.