Haley has her greatest opportunity to defeat Trump yet in the DC primary

Republican voters in Washington D.C. are poised to make their mark on the presidential ticket, offering former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley her most promising opportunity for a primary victory yet.

The primary in Washington D.C. spans three days this weekend, starting on Friday and concluding on Sunday evening. The city's 19 delegates are at stake, to be awarded to any candidate who secures more than 50% of the vote or distributed proportionally if no candidate surpasses this threshold. Candidates receiving less than 15% of the vote will not receive delegates.

Despite being heavily Democratic, Washington D.C. poses a challenge for former President Donald Trump in his quest to maintain his unbeaten streak in GOP primaries. While Trump won the district in 2020 uncontested, he trailed behind Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the 2016 primary.

When approached by Fox News Digital for comment, the Trump campaign played down the significance of the upcoming primary contests, emphasizing their focus on Joe Biden and the general election.

Trump has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the primary season, securing victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the Virgin Islands, South Carolina, and Michigan. Haley, on the other hand, stands as the sole contender challenging Trump in the GOP field, pledging to continue her campaign despite a recent setback in her home state of South Carolina.

Washington D.C.'s primary stands out due to its unique format. Polls open on Friday morning and close on Sunday at 7 p.m., with no provision for early or absentee voting. Results are not immediately released but are instead announced by the district's party officials approximately an hour after the polls close.

The primary occurs just before Super Tuesday, where 15 states will hold GOP contests, offering a total of 865 delegates. With Trump holding a significant lead in the GOP primary and President Biden similarly dominating the Democratic side, a rematch between the two seems inevitable for the 2020 campaign.