Nikki Haley

**Nimrata Nikki Haley** (née **Randhawa**; born January 20, 1972) is an American politician. She was the 29th United States Ambassador to the United Nations beginning on January 24, 2017. She resigned on October 9, 2018 and left the office on December 31, 2018.

On January 12, 2011, she became the Governor of South Carolina and left the office in 2017 to become Ambassador. She is a member of the Republican Party. She is the first female governor of South Carolina. At the age of 42, she was the youngest governor in the United States, followed by another fellow Republican governor, Bobby Jindal.

In February 2023, Haley announced her candidacy for President of the United States in the 2024 election.

## Early life

Haley was born at Bamberg County Memorial Hospital in Bamberg, South Carolina. Her parents were Ajit Singh Randhawa and Raj Kaur Randhaw, from Punjab, India. Her father was a professor at Punjab Agricultural University. Her mother started a clothing company, Exotica International. Haley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Clemson University. She has one sister and two brothers.

## Governor of South Carolina (2011–2017)

On May 14, 2009, Haley announced that she would run for the Republican nomination for Governor of South Carolina in 2010.

The Republican gubernatorial primary took place on June 8, 2010, and Haley captured 49% of the vote. A runoff election happened on June 22, because nobody won 50% of the vote. Haley won handily in the runoff vote. Haley was elected governor on November 2, 2010, over the Democratic candidate, Vincent Sheheen 51% to 47%. On August 12, 2013, Haley announced she would seek a second term during a rally August 26, 2013, at the BI-LO Center in downtown Greenville. Haley was re-elected on November 4, 2014, with a 55.9 percent to 41.3 percent win, almost tripling her previous margin of victory over Sheheen in 2010 gubernatorial elections.

Haley supports lower taxes, opposes regulation and is extremely anti-union. In June 2015, following the Charleston church shooting, Haley led bi-partisan calls for the removal of the Confederate flag from the State Capitol and its grounds. In July 2015, Haley signed a Bill to authorize removing the Confederate flag from the flagpole on the grounds of the South Carolina Capitol.

In April 2016, Haley indicated she would not support legislation introduced by the South Carolina State Senate which would require transgender individuals to use restrooms based on biological sex instead of gender identity.

## Ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018)

On November 23, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Haley for Ambassador to the United Nations. On January 20, 2017, President Trump sent Haley's nomination to the Senate. Haley was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate 96-4 on January 24, 2017. Haley is the first Indian American to serve in a presidential cabinet.

Her tenure focused on harsh responses to the Bashar al-Assad regime and sanctions against North Korea as tensions grew between Trump and Kim Jong-un.

Haley resigned on October 9, 2018 to return to her home state. Multiple U.N. watchdogs called for an investigation over her many private jet plane travels. She was also falsely accused of overspending on $52,000 curtains which were actually purchased during the Obama Administration. She left the office on December 31, 2018.

## 2024 presidential campaign

In July 2022, Haley said that she was thinking about running for president in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. On February 1, 2023, it was reported that Haley was going to announce a bid for the presidency on February 15, making her the first challenger to former President Donald Trump's campaign.

On February 14, 2023, Haley officially announced her candidacy for president. She is the third Indian-American politician to seek a presidential nomination after Bobby Jindal and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Haley was seen as a strong candidate for the Republican nomination. In late October 2023, she was polling at about 8.3% in national Republican primary opinion polls, third to Trump and Ron DeSantis. She received endorsements from two congressmen—House Freedom Caucus member Ralph Norman and former 2024 Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd.

## Personal life

In September 1996, she married Michael Haley, a South Carolina National Guard. They have two children: Rena and Nalin Haley.

## Other websites

- Official website of the Governor of South Carolina

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Nikki Haley
- **image**: Nikki Haley by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg
- **caption**: Haley in 2024
- **office**: 29th United States Ambassador to the United Nations
- **president**: Donald Trump
- **term start**: January 24, 2017
- **term end**: December 31, 2018
- **predecessor**: Samantha Power
- **successor**: Kelly Craft
- **order1**: List of Governors of South Carolina, 116th Governor of South Carolina
- **term start1**: January 12, 2011
- **term end1**: January 24, 2017
- **predecessor1**: Mark Sanford
- **successor1**: Henry McMaster
- **state house2**: South Carolina
- **district2**: 87th
- **term start2**: January 11, 2005
- **term end2**: January 11, 2011
- **predecessor2**: Larry Koon (politician), Larry Koon
- **successor2**: Todd Atwater
- **birth name**: Nimrata Randhawa
- **party**: Republican Party (United States), Republican
- **spouse**: Michael Haley (South Carolina), Michael Haley
- **children**: 2
- **residence**: New York City, New York (state), New York, U.S.
- **education**: Clemson University