Nikki Haley: A Trailblazing Governor and Potential Presidential Candidate
Early Life and Education
Nikki Randall Haley, born Nimrata Randhawa, was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, on January 20, 1972. Her parents, Ajit Singh Randhawa and Raj Kaur Randhawa, immigrated to Canada from Punjab, India, in 1964 and moved to the United States in the 1960s.
Haley grew up in a Sikh family in a small town near Voorhees College. She attended Clemson University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting in 1994. While at Clemson, Haley served as president of her local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Political Career
Haley began her political career in 2004 when she was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. She served in the House for six years, representing Lexington County. In 2010, Haley was elected governor of South Carolina, becoming the first woman and the first Indian American to hold the office.
As governor, Haley focused on economic development, education reform, and tax cuts. She also signed into law a controversial bill requiring voters to present photo identification to vote. In 2015, Haley gained national attention for her decision to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House.
Haley served two terms as governor and declined to run for reelection in 2018. She was appointed US ambassador to the United Nations by President Donald Trump in 2017 and served in that role until 2018. Haley is considered a potential presidential candidate in 2024.
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