In an unexpected twist during the Nevada Republican Primary, voters expressed a clear preference for ‘none of these candidates,’ overshadowing the efforts of former GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley. Official results reported by The Associated Press showed this option surging ahead shortly after polls closed at 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
As the count progressed, a staggering 60% of Republican ballots cast sided with ‘none of these candidates,’ leaving Haley with a mere 31% of the voter share. This happened despite Donald Trump, a major GOP figure, not being listed on this primary’s ballot.
The peculiar outcome in Nevada, where a significant segment of voters deliberately chose ‘none of these candidates’ over the actual nominee contenders, reflects an unconventional aspect of the state’s electoral process. Up until 12 a.m., when over 67,000 Republican votes were tallied, this preference prevailed.
While the primary in question does not directly influence delegate allocation for the upcoming Republican National Convention, it does signal the party members’ sentiments. Nevada’s GOP has maintained its caucus system, with the official caucus set for the coming Thursday—a platform where frontrunners Donald Trump and Ryan Binkley will be present.
Trump didn’t miss the opportunity to remark on the primaries’ proceedings, branding the evening as ‘bad’ for Haley on his social media platform. His commentary underscored Haley’s significant loss margin, nearly 30 points behind the option of ‘none of these candidates.’
Nevada GOP’s response to the primary results arrived through Party Chairman Michael McDonald, who humorously commended the ‘none of the above’ campaign on its ‘wonderful job.’ The strict adherence to the state’s unique primary process, irrespective of its bearing on national delegate distribution, serves as a sharp reminder of the diverse approaches to the political nomination process across the United States.