Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is Running for President of the United States. Biography facts explored!
Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who served as U.N. ambassador during part of Donald Trump’s presidency, has announced she is running for president in 2024. On Valentine’s Day 2023, Nikki Haley officially announced she is running for president in the 2024 race.
Nikki’s presidential aspirations may eventually go head-to-head with Donald Trump, who previously announced his intentions to run again in 2024.
The Republican from South Carolina may not be known to many across the United States. First, it’s important to note that Nikki is “the proud daughter of Indian immigrants,” which she shared in a Twitter video to launch her campaign.
But who exactly is Nikki Haley, the former governor of the Palmetto State? Here’s a look at the possible GOP presidential contender, including what we know about her family.
Who is Nikki Haley?
Born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa, Nikki Haley was elected as the first female governor of South Carolina, the youngest governor in the country, and also the nation’s second governor of Indian descent. Beyond that, she was the first female Asian American governor and became the first Indian American in a presidential cabinet when she served under Trump from 2017 to 2018.
What is Nikki Haley’s ethnicity? Details on her parents and origin.
Nikki’s parents, Ajit Singh Randhawa and Raj Kaur Randhawa, are Indian Punjabi Sikh immigrants who worked as teachers. The family first moved to Canada when her father received a scholarship from the University of British Columbia, then to South Carolina when her father was offered a teaching position in biology at Voorhees College, where he taught until 1998.
According to Business Insider, Nikki’s mother, Raj, studied law at the University of New Delhi and earned a master’s degree in education. She taught for seven years in Bamberg public schools before the family opened their boutique.
Nikki’s parents owned Exotica International, a clothing boutique where Nikki worked as a teen. Per a press release from the company, the store closed in 2008 when Nikki’s parents retired. The business had been in operation for 32 years.
Who are Nikki Haley’s siblings? They are not involved in the political field.
Nikki has two brothers, Mitti and Charan, and a sister, Simran. According to Heavy, Simran was born in Canada and became a radio host before eventually graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Mitti is a retired member of the United States Army Chemical Corps who served in the Gulf War, and Charan is a web designer.
Who is Nikki Haley’s husband?
Nikki crossed paths with her future husband, Michael Haley, at Clemson University, according to Business Insider.
The presidential candidate told The New York Times in 2010 that her now-spouse Michael is of a different religion than how she was brought up.
“I was born and raised with the Sikh faith, my husband and I were married in the Methodist Church,” Nikki explained, with the outlet reporting that the couple had a second Sikh wedding ceremony.
Nikki also added that their kids “have been baptized in the Methodist Church, and currently we attend both.” More about their daughter Rena and son Nalin in a moment.
In the meantime, Express reports that Michael, whose given name is William Michael Haley, is a commissioned army officer, specializing in Security Cooperation.
Michael oversaw a tour of Afghanistan in 2012, later serving as president of his wife’s political action committee, Stand for America.
Meanwhile, Nikki has called Michael her “best friend,” gushing about her husband in a 2018 Facebook post, “22 years ago today I was blessed to marry my best friend.”
She went on to say in the moving post, “Michael, thank you for loving me unconditionally, laughing with me when it’s hard, helping me forget the world for a while, raising our children with love and fun, serving our country proudly, and always being there to hold my hand. We have more fun years ahead!”
How many children does Nikki Haley have? She shares all her kids with Michael Haley.
As Nikki throws her hat in the ring for the top job in the land, consider that she is a mom as well as a presidential candidate. Her daughter Rena was born in 1998, and her son Nalin followed in 2001.
Per Rena’s Instagram, she too attended Clemson in South Carolina and is now a pediatric nurse. Nikki’s daughter is currently engaged to Joshua Jackson.
In October of 2022, Rena shared a photo of herself with Joshua, with a caption that read in part, “I can’t wait to dance with you forever!!” Rena also announced that is was only six months until the couple’s nuptials, which means the duo will say “I do” in April of 2023. Meanwhile, Nikki commented on the post, “So exciting!”
As for Nalin, per his Instagram, the former first son of South Carolina attends Villanova University in Philadelphia, Penn.
Not much else is known about the college student, but we’ll likely see him on the national stage soon as his mom campaigns around the country in the lead-up to the election.
What is Nikki’s religion? She’s spoken before about her conversion.
In September 1996, then–Nikki Randhawa married Michael Haley in both Sikh and Methodist ceremonies to honor both of their respective faiths. Only a year later, Haley opted to convert to Christianity, and a year after that, she welcomed her first daughter, Rena. In 2001, the pair had their second child, a son named Nalin.
Speaking to Christianity Today in 2012, Nikki said, “My brother and I have converted to Christianity and my other brother and sister are still Sikh. So for me it’s not something that I ever want to be judgmental on. I know my parents are two people of a very strong faith. I respect all that they’ve done in raising their four kids and in the opportunities that they’ve given us.”
Will Nikki Haley run for U.S. president in 2024? She revealed her intentions in 2022 and affirmed them on Valentine’s day in 2023.
While speaking at Christians United for Israel’s Washington summit in July 2022, Haley hinted at a run for president in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, saying, “If this president signs any sort of [Iran nuclear] deal, I’ll make you a promise: The next president will shred it on her first day in office,” and, “Just saying, sometimes it takes a woman.”
On February 1, 2023, it was reported that Haley was going to announce a bid for the presidency on February 15, making her the first challenger to former President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Haley will be the third Indian-American politician to seek a presidential nomination following Bobby Jindal and current Vice President Kamala Harris. Haley had previously claimed that she would not run for the candidacy if Trump also sought the nomination.
On February 14, 2023, she officially announced her candidacy. In an ad titled “Strong and Proud,” Haley made it official that she is running for president in 2024. She became the second major candidate to announce her run for the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Haley is also the first woman of color to be a major candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.
Nikki Haley is also an author and has magnificent books to her credit.
Nikki Haley is a high-profile woman. Per her Wikipedia, she has a fleet of awards and honors. On top of that, she has published a handful of books on Amazon. Some of these books are;
- Can’t Is Not an Option: My American Story, Sentinel, New York (2012).
- With All Due Respect: Defending America with Grit and Grace, St. Martin’s Press, New York (2019).
- A Better Blueprint for International Organizations: Advancing American Interests on the Global Stage, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, (2021)
- If You Want Something Done: Leadership Lessons from Bold Women, St. Martin’s Press, New York (2022).
What is Nikki Haley’s net worth? She has an impressive fortune.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Nikki is worth roughly $2 million, money that she accrued through her various high-profile government jobs as well as individual business dealings.
What are Nikki Haley’s social media accounts?
Nikki is an active social media user. You contact her directly via;
Instagram: @nikkihaley
Twitter: @nikkihaley
Facebook: @nikkihaley
