Nikki Haley: The Least of All Evils?

CHRISTIANA TUCHOLSKI: Rising Republican candidate Nikki Haley is gaining popularity with youth voters across the country, and some Georgetown University students are even supporting her. Following the GOP debate Aug. 23, 2023, she was rated the highest of all other contenders. Haley’s status as the most tolerant Republican candidate may be the secret to her success.

As Generation Z attains the right to vote, they tend to value progressive candidates. These progressive values may include abortion rights and environmental protections, while also desiring social change for minorities across the country. While Haley may not be considered progressive when compared to President Joe Biden, she certainly is when shown next to her fellow Republican competitors.

When speaking on abortion rights, Haley expressed pro-life views, but disagreed with a ban on the federal level, a vehement divergence from her fellow candidates. As the former governor of South Carolina, she imposed several restrictions on abortion, preventing care for many women across the state, calling herself “unapologetically pro-life.” However, when asked about a federal ban, she explained that it was not possible as the legislation would never pass in the Senate, arguing that it would only tear the two parties further apart. She also ridiculed the belief of punishing women for getting an abortion. In this way, Haley was able to set herself apart from the other candidates, showcasing more progressive beliefs in not passing a federal ban despite her personal beliefs.

Youth voters in both the Democratic and Republican Party are in support of stricter climate policies. While youth voters are more likely to vote blue, Haley’s progressive climate beliefs in comparison to her fellow Republican candidates may sway some youth voters. At the last Republican debate, Vivek Ramaswamy claimed that the “climate change agenda is a hoax,” while almost every other competitor refused to answer questions regarding climate change. Haley, however, stated that climate change is most certainly real. While this statement is mediocre when compared to the views of many Democrats, it can not only be seen as a step in the right direction for the Republican Party, but also as an appeal to youth voters. Some youth voters that consider themselves to be “moderates” could be swayed to vote for Haley given her more progressive views when compared to her Republican counterparts.

Haley has attempted to distinguish herself in the past from the most extreme conservatives in politics. She has distanced herself from the party by claiming that aspects of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies are inhumane. The previous administration advocated separating immigrant children from their parents, something Haley categorically disagreed with. While she does support immigration reform much like other Republicans, she gives a more middle-of-the-road option for voters that are upset with Biden’s policies yet do not want the tyrannical-like policies of Donald Trump or Ron DeSantis.

For Haley, the Aug. 23, 2023 debate was a perfect opportunity for her to distinguish her beliefs on abortion, climate change, and societal issues from that of her fellow party members, and she succeeded. She is surely not an admirable replacement for Biden, but she has shown youth voters that not all Republicans are extremists, a display of progress within the Republican party that could lead to increased support in the future. Haley will likely not win the primary with only the support of youth voters, but it can give hope to more moderate Republicans for the times ahead

Christiana Tucholski is a Staff Writer of On the Record. She is a freshman in the College studying Government. Christiana enjoys skiing and exploring new coffee shops in her free time.