With Haley out of the picture, Trump vs. Biden rematch to come in November
A Trump supporter sporting a Trump flag as a cape holds his daughter while waiting in line at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on March. 3. Photo by Andrew Kerley.
Jack Glagola, News Editor
Andrew Kerley, Audience Editor
Former President Donald Trump defeated Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, in Virginia’s Republican presidential primary election on March 5 by a 28-point margin, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.
Virginia was one of 15 states that held a Republican primary on “Super Tuesday,” according to the Associated Press. With Trump winning enough delegates to earn the Republican nomination, a rematch between him and President Joe Biden in November is guaranteed, according to Reuters.
Haley, who is more moderate than Trump, won one state, Vermont, making her the first woman to ever win a state’s Republican presidential primary, according to the Associated Press. She also won the District of Columbia.
While Trump won most of Virginia, Haley notably took Richmond City, Fairfax City and multiple other urban districts, according to CNN.
Haley dropped out of the race the following day, as announced in her speech.
“I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard,” Haley said. “I have done that. I have no regrets.”
Trump and Haley both made appearances in the Richmond area the week before the primary.
After being introduced by Susan Allen, the former First Lady of Virginia to former Gov. George Allen, Haley decried the country’s $34 trillion national debt, the rising prices of common goods and the influx of undocumented immigrants crossing the border.
“It is time we had an accountant in the White House,” Haley said.
Touting herself as an alternative candidate, Haley mentioned Trump and Biden’s old age during her rally in western Henrico on Feb. 29.
“Congress has become the most privileged nursing home in the country,” Haley said. “These are people making decisions on the future of our economy — on the future of national security.”
Trump held his own “Get Out the Vote” rally in downtown Richmond on March 2.
“Is there anything better than a Trump rally in Virginia?” Trump asked the crowd of thousands.
Trump spent most of his 90-minute speech attacking Biden — or “Sleepy Joe” as he called him — and his policies, while also repeating unbacked claims that the 2020 presidential election was “rigged” and that he “won.” If elected, Trump promised to increase border security and close the federal Department of Education to put states in charge.
Trump supporters began lining up at the Greater Richmond Convention Center as early as 9:30 a.m. the day before the rally. At the front of the line stood “Front Row Joe” Scott Knuth, who was attending his 43rd Trump rally.
Knuth said Trump gives people a “national sense of pride.” He believes Trump supporters are going to come out in bigger numbers than ever.
“Get off the couch and do what you have to do for America and our freedoms,” Knuth said.
Sheri Tew is a mother from Henrico with a daughter attending James Madison University. She said she believes Trump is America’s “best and last hope for recovering our election system.”
Many Trump supporters who attended the event said they believed Trump won the 2020 presidential election and Democrats manipulated votes to secure Biden’s victory. However, there is no evidence of foul play, according to the Associated Press. Biden won the popular vote by over 7 million ballots.
Trump was previously caught pressuring the Georgia secretary of state to “find votes,” according to a video obtained by the Washington Post. His lies led to Georgia election workers suing his campaign for life-altering defamation, according to the Washington Post.
Nearly 70% of Republicans still believe Biden’s 2020 win was illegitimate, according to a poll by CNN.
Kenny L’Heureux attended the rally and posed with guests in a Superman costume and Trump mask. He has been to over a dozen rallies, including in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. He did not enter the Capitol Building that day, but collected some memorabilia, such as rubber bullets, he said.
“We’re just standing up for our man because we love President Trump,” L’Heureux said.
L’Heureux said Nikki Haley, whose campaign drove an advertisement truck around the convention center, is “showing her colors right now.”
“She’s hoping that she can get someone to throw Trump in jail so she can jump into the spot,” L’Heureux said. “But I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
A menagerie of Republican lawmakers made appearances at the rally. Trump pointed out Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-CO, and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore in the crowd during his speech.
A handful of Republican Senatorial candidates were also in attendance, looking to defeat the Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, whose term is up in November. Military veterans like Hung Cao and Eddie Garcia chatted with attendees and collected signatures for their respective campaigns.
Garcia said he’s aiming to defeat the well-established, former Gov. Kaine with a “grassroots, blue-collar, working-class movement.”
“Republicans and Democrats in D.C. look the same, they sound the same, they’re both the same,” Garcia said. It’s time for something different — if we want positive change, if we want a better tomorrow, we’ve got to have people that come from us, not at us.”
Virginia will hold its senatorial primary election on June 18, and early voting will start on May 3. The presidential election will be on Nov. 5, and early voting will start on Sept. 20.
The latest polls show Biden to be favored above Trump by up to six points in Virginia. Biden beat Trump in Virginia in 2020 by over ten points, according to CNN. Hillary Clinton also beat Trump in Virginia in 2016 by over five points.
Biden gave his own comments about his predecessor during his State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7, ridiculing Trump for Jan. 6, 2021, election lies and “bowing down” to Russian leaders attacking Ukraine.
Biden opened the address by calling back to previous presidents who addressed the nation during “unprecedented times.”
“Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today,” Biden said.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the results of the Republican presidential primary as of March 13.
