Trump wins NH primary, tightens grip on GOP
Result is a setback for Haley; rematch with Biden likely
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Donald Trump won the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, tightening his grip on the Republican presidential nomination and bolstering the likelihood of a rematch later this year against President Joe Biden.
The result was a setback for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who invested significant time and financial resources into winning the state.
She was the last major challenger in the race after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ended his presidential bid over the weekend, allowing her to campaign as the sole alternative to Trump. Haley intensified her criticism of the former president, questioning his mental acuity and pitching herself as a unifying candidate who would usher in generational change.
The appeals failed to resonate with enough voters. Trump can now boast of being the first Republican presidential candidate to win open races in Iowa and New
Hampshire since both states began leading the election calendar in 1976, a striking sign of how rapidly Republicans have rallied around him to make him their nominee for the third consecutive time.
By posting easy wins in both early states, Trump is demonstrating an ability to unite the GOP’s factions firmly behind him.
He’s garnered support from the evangelical conservatives who are influential in Iowa and New Hampshire’s more moderate voters, strength he hopes to replicate as the primary quickly expands to the rest of the U.S.
Haley was unable to capitalize on New Hampshire’s more moderate political tradition. Now, her path to becoming the GOP standard-bearer is narrowing quickly. She won’t compete in a contest that awards delegates until South Carolina’s Feb. 24 primary.
As the state’s former governor, she’s hoping a strong showing there could propel her into the March 5 Super Tuesday contests.
the National Aquarium.
Vignarajah, previously a partner at DLA Piper and a deputy Maryland attorney general, is a late entry to a field of Democrats that includes notable names. Mayor Brandon Scott, a first-term mayor who assumed office in 2020 after beating Vignarajah and others, is vying for the chance to serve a second term. Former Mayor Sheila Dixon, who also finished ahead of Vignarajah in 2020, is trying to reclaim her seat. Also running as a Democrat is Robert Wallace, a business owner who ran as an independent candidate in 2020.
Many of Vignarajah’s goals during the 2024 campaign are similar to those of 2020. He pledges to pursue free college educations for graduates of city public schools, make bus rides free citywide, reform procurement and implement a plan to cut property taxes in half over 10 years.
One significant difference from Vignarajah’s 2020 campaign stands out, however: Donors’ contributions.
When the first finance reports of his last mayoral campaign were filed in January 2020, Vignarajah had raised more than $1 million and was airing commercials and buying billboard ads.
Last week, by comparison, Vignarajah filed a report with the state saying he had not raised or spent more than $1,000 in the last year.
During his 2020 and 2022 campaigns, Vignarajah was the recipient of significant financial support from the family of David Smith, chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group. It owns 185 television stations, including WBFF-TV, also known as Fox 45, in Baltimore. At least six Smith family members gave the maximum donation to Vignarajah’s initial fundraising effort in 2020. In May of that year, Fox 45 hosted an hourlong show with just Vignarajah after other candidates backed out, some citing Smith family donations to Vignarajah.
This month, Smith purchased The Baltimore Sun.
In 2022, a PAC known as A Safer, Stronger Baltimore spent $220,000 in support of Vignarajah’s race for state’s attorney. Of that pot, $200,000 was contributed by David Smith’s children: Blake, Devon, Jacqueline and Matthew Smith.
Ahead of the 2024 race, however, the Smith family has backed Dixon. Campaign finance reports filed last week showed a PAC in support of Dixon raised more than $200,000 in support of her candidacy, $100,000 of which was contributed by David Smith. Family members and their associated businesses gave another $30,000 directly to Dixon’s campaign, finance records show.
This time, it is Dixon making frequent appearances on Fox 45, both ahead of and during her campaign. She has granted the station exclusive interviews and the station has aired her town hall events.
Vignarajah said Wednesday he plans to take advantage of public campaign financing from Baltimore’s Fair Election Fund, which was established to reduce the role of large contributions in elections. To qualify, candidates for mayor must get contributions from at least 500 residents, each of no more than $150, and raise at least $40,000 that way. Vignarajah has not yet started raising the money, but this week he created a separate campaign fund, as required.
“We’ve never had that, not in the history of this city. The opportunity to elect a mayor that’s not bought and paid for,” Vignarajah said. “I think this is what a politician should do to break that cycle.” Asked how that squares with his past donations, Vignarajah said he received maximum $6,000 donations from numerous sources and his policy positions “rarely” reflected those of his donors.
“The positions I took before I ran, while I ran, and after I lost, precious few of them are the ones Jack Luetkemeyer or Mary Miller or David Smith or anyone else would be pushing,” he said, highlighting several past donors. John Luetkemeyer Jr. is a real estate developer, while Miller is a former undersecretary of the U.S. Treasury who also ran for mayor in 2020.
Vignarajah said his latest campaign will differ from those of the past because he will not allow his opponents or the media to “define who we are.” In the past, Vignarajah’s fellow candidates have capitalized on reports that he harassed and abused staff during his time with the Maryland attorney general ‘s office and the office of state’s attorney in Baltimore.
One former staffer told The Sun in 2022 that Vignarajah mentally abused and manipulated her, threatening to ruin her career if she spoke out against him. The staffer said Vignarajah on one occasion grabbed her phone while he was driving and began speeding toward a wall. Vignarajah previously refused to comment on the allegations, saying through a 2022 campaign spokesman they were a “coordinated political effort” by his opponents.
Asked to address the allegations Wednesday, Vignarajah acknowledged he’s “made mistakes.”
“I’ve learned from them. I’ve had tough times and I’ve grown,” he said. “I’ve become a better manager, leader and person. That’s the work I’ve put in. I’m not perfect. No one is.”
Asked to specifically address text messages the subordinate shared with The Sun in which Vignarajah used abusive language, calling her a “bitch” and a “wretched piece of s—”, Vignarajah said, “now is not the time for that.”
“This race has got to be about issues that effect us all,” he countered.