Joe Biden Wins Nevada Democratic Primary, Nikki Haley Loses GOP Race

President Joe Biden has won the Nevada Democratic primary while former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley lost the Republican race despite frontrunner former President Donald Trump not appearing on the ballot, according to projections from the Associated Press (AP).

With 88.8 percent, Biden defeated author Marianne Williamson and nearly a dozen other long-shot challengers, according to AP projections, which showed the option for “None of These Candidates” coming in second with 6.4 percent of the vote. Williamson came in third with 3.2 percent. The outlet called the race at 11:39 p.m. EST, not long after polls closed at 10 p.m. EST in Nevada.

One of Biden’s rivals, Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota, chose not to compete in the state but vowed to stay in the race at least through the Michigan primary.

For the Republican primary, the AP called the race at 12:01 a.m.

Haley placed second with 32.4 percent, trailing the GOP ballot option of “None of These Candidates,” which had 61.2 percent.

The former South Carolina governor’s rival, Trump, was not on the Nevada Republican primary ballot.

The GOP hopefuls face a key test in Nevada, a swing state in the general election where Latino voters, a demographic with whom Republicans hope to make gains, make up a third of the population.

Newsweek on Tuesday night reached out via email to Biden, Haley and Trump representatives for comment.

Why Wasn’t Trump on the Ballot?

Trump, the GOP front-runner after decisive victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, was not on the ballot due to a change in the state’s election laws.

While Nevada’s presidential primary is one of the earliest nominating contests of the campaign season, it is largely symbolic.

Nevada is traditionally a caucus state, where voters attend precinct meetings and divide into different groups backing separate candidates, rather than voting on a primary’s ballot. However, the state passed a law that requires political parties to hold state-run primary elections if more than one candidate files for the race.

As a result, Republicans are holding a caucus on Thursday, where voters will be able to select Trump. Nevada Republicans can vote in both the primary and caucus but the candidates had to choose to appear in one.

The Republican Party will use the caucus results, rather than the primary, to determine who will win the state’s 26 delegates. On the Democratic side, only a state-run primary was held in Nevada.

What’s Next?

While South Carolina already held its Democratic primary, Republican voters can cast their ballots in the Palmetto State, where Haley served as a two-term governor, on February 24.

Michigan will hold its primaries on February 27, followed by a slew of states on March 5, known as Super Tuesday.

Update 2/7/24, 12:20 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.