cnn
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Here's a look at the life of Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former Republican governor of South Carolina.
Birthdate: January 20, 1972
Place of birth: Bamberg, South Carolina
Birth name: Nimrata Nikki Randhawa
Father: Ajit S. Randhawa, professor and businessman
Mother: Raj Kaur Randhawa, teacher and businessman
Marriage: Michael Haley (1996-present)
Children: rena and nalin
Education: Clemson University, B.A., 1994
Religion: Christian
Haley's parents are Indian immigrants who owned Exotica International Inc., a small foreign merchandise store that evolved into a multimillion-dollar clothing and gift company. Exotica closed in 2008 when Randhawa retired.
Haley helped with bookkeeping at her parents' business as a teenager.
Her husband served in the National Guard and was stationed in Afghanistan for a year. She was part of a farming team that trained Afghan farmers how to convert their poppy crops into food crops.
Haley was raised in the Sikh religion but converted to Christianity when she was 20 years old. In an interview with the New York Times, Haley said she and her husband “chose Christianity because of the way we wanted to live our lives and raise our children.”
In 2011, she made history by becoming the first woman and the first person from an ethnic minority to serve as governor of South Carolina. She is also the second Indian-American governor in US history. Bobby Jindal was the first, in Louisiana.
1998 – He is appointed to the board of directors of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce.
2003 – He is appointed to the board of directors of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce.
2004 – She becomes president of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
2004 – Haley is elected to South Carolina House District 87.
2005 – He is elected president of the freshman group of the House of Representatives.
2006 – He serves as majority whip in the South Carolina General Assembly.
2006 and 2008 – She is re-elected to her seat in the South Carolina State House of Representatives.
November 2, 2010 – He is elected governor of South Carolina, with the support of the Tea Party movement.
January 12, 2011 – He takes office as governor of South Carolina.
April 2012 – His autobiography, “Can't Is Not an Option: My American Story,” is published.
November 8, 2014 – He is re-elected for a second four-year term as governor.
June 22, 2015 – Calls for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the South Carolina State House days after Dylann Roof opened fire at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Roof was repeatedly photographed with the Confederate flag. The flag is removed weeks later.
January 12, 2016 – It offers the Republican Party's response to President Barack Obama's latest State of the Union address.
November 23, 2016 – President-elect Donald Trump announces Haley as his choice to serve as US ambassador to the United Nations.
January 24, 2017 – The Senate confirms Haley as the next UN ambassador by 96 votes in favor and 4 against.
January 24, 2017 – Resigns as governor of South Carolina.
January 25, 2017 – Takes oath as ambassador to the United Nations.
September 2017 – In an interview with Elise Labott published in CNN's STATE magazine, Haley discusses her conditions for becoming US ambassador to the United Nations, including the condition that she be able to speak her mind.
December 10, 2017 – Haley says any woman who speaks out about inappropriate sexual behavior “needs to be heard,” including Trump's accusers.
December 21, 2017 – In a speech to the UN General Assembly, Haley warns participating countries that the United States will think twice about funding the world body if it votes to condemn Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the United States embassy there. Despite Haley's threat, member countries vote overwhelmingly in favor of the resolution condemning the Trump administration for its decision on Israel.
December 26, 2017 – Haley says the United States has negotiated a $285 million reduction in the UN budget for 2018-2019, compared to the budget for 2016-2017.
October 9, 2018 – Haley resigns as UN ambassador. She will step down from her position at the end of the year.
February 2019 – Launches policy advocacy group Stand for America.
February 26, 2019 – Boeing announces that its board of directors has nominated Haley for a board position.
April 29, 2019 – Haley is elected to Boeing's board of directors during the company's annual shareholder meeting.
November 12, 2019 – Haley’s memoir, “With All Due Respect: Defending America with Courage and Grace,” is published.
December 2019 – During an interview with conservative podcaster Glenn Beck, Haley reviews her decision to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Statehouse after the 2015 mass shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Haley says gunman Dylann Roof “hijacked” the meaning of the flag. She explains that the flag meant service, sacrifice, and heritage to many people. She later says, via Twitter, that her comment was misinterpreted by “outrage mongers in the liberal media.”
March 19, 2020 – Boeing releases March 16 letter from Haley resigning from board of directors. She states: “I cannot support a move to rely on the federal government for a stimulus or bailout that prioritizes our business over others and relies on taxpayers to ensure our financial position. “I have long held the firm belief that that is not the role of government.”
October 4, 2022 – Haley’s book, “If You Want Something Done: Leadership Lessons from Bold Women,” is published.
February 14, 2023 – Haley announces in a video that she will run for president in 2024.
March 6, 2024 – Haley announces that she is ending her presidential campaign.
