Who is Nikki Haley? The former Republican governor turned who wants to run for president
If Haley were to make it to the White House, she would win the distinction of being the first-ever female President of the United States.
Nikki Haley is the first woman candidate of Indian origin in the 2024 United States presidential election. The 51-year-old has qualified for the Republican Party’s fourth debate, to be held on Wednesday, Dec. 6.
Haley is only one of four candidates who qualified for the fourth debate before the primary is set to begin. Currently, she stands at around 10.6 percent support in the polls, according to Five-Thirty-Eight.
Haley was born on January 20th, 1972 in Bamberg, South Carolina. Her parents were Indian immigrants who owned a store that sold foreign goods. The store eventually became a successful clothing and gift venture. As a teenager, Haley worked in the family business and continued to do so after she graduated from Clemson University. In an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier earlier this year, she said she believes that she has the character for the White House.
“When you’re looking at a run for president, you look at two things: You first look at whether the current situation pushes for new leadership. The second question is, am I that person that could be that new leader?” Haley said.
“Yes, we need to go in a new direction,” she added. “And can I be that leader? Yes, I think I can be that leader.”
Haley served during Trump administration
Nikki Haley, a 51-year-old politician, has a remarkable career in politics. She started her journey as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2004. She won that election and was re-elected twice. Later, in 2010, during her third term, she was elected as the governor of South Carolina. This made her the first female governor of South Carolina, the youngest governor in the US at that time, and the second person of Indian descent to lead a state. If she were to be elected as the President of the United States, she would become the first-ever female President of the country.
In late 2016, Trump announced that he was nominating Haley for Ambassador to the UN, and she was confirmed by the Senate, 96-4, in January 2017. But at the end of 2018, she stepped down from the role, citing her desire for a break from front-line politics.
She has said that during her time as UN Ambassador, she “took on the world when they tried to disrespect us.”