South Carolinians are strong, independently-minded people. At the end of the day, they make their own decisions. And I respect them for that. And I welcome that. And I told him that from the very beginning.

On November 11 2009 Nikki Haley was endorsed by former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney as well as Jenny Sanford the incumbent first lady of South Carolina. Racial commentary against Haley
On June 3 2010 on the Internet political talk show Pub Politics State Senator Jake Knotts a South Carolina lawmaker and supporter of one of Haley's primary election opponents Lt. On June 3 2010 Larry Marchant a consultant for Andre Bauer's gubernatorial campaign made a statement alleging that he and Haley had a one-time sexual encounter.

A member of the Republican Party Haley represented Lexington County in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010. In the 2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election Haley was endorsed for the Republican nomination by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and the Tea Party movement. Haley won the runoff on June 22 with 65% and proceeded to win the general election by a 51–47% margin.