In the first-in-the-nation primary held in New Hampshire, voters are casting their ballots to determine who should be the next president. The primary has gained significant attention as former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, competes against his lone remaining challenger, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, for the 2024 GOP nomination. The polls, which mostly close at 7 p.m. ET but some remain open till 8 p.m. ET, have attracted record Republican turnout expectations.

New Hampshire primary typically follows the Iowa caucuses, but the two states rarely align in their choice of the Republican nominee. If Trump emerges as the winner in New Hampshire, he will be the first GOP candidate to secure victories in both states since 1996. The differences between New Hampshire and Iowa can be attributed to the contrasting political and cultural landscapes. New Hampshire, being less politically and culturally conservative than Iowa, tends to favor more centrist Republicans historically, such as Mitt Romney and John McCain. Additionally, New Hampshire has fewer evangelical Christian voters compared to Iowa, who are among Trump's strongest supporters. Notably, the New Hampshire primary allows unaffiliated voters to participate, making them the largest registered voter group there.

Preliminary exit poll results indicate that in New Hampshire, over half of the voters do not identify themselves as followers of Trump's MAGA movement. This percentage is lower than the figure reported in the Iowa caucuses. While Haley remains competitive in the state, the history of the New Hampshire primary suggests that losing candidates have a difficult path ahead. Since 1952, except for three instances, the GOP nominee has always won the Granite State, making it a pivotal state in the primary race. Thus, if Haley fails to secure victories in both Iowa and New Hampshire, her chances of securing the GOP nomination may diminish significantly.

One notable aspect of this primary is the absence of President Biden's name on the New Hampshire ballot. Due to a scheduling conflict between the state party and the Democratic National Committee, Biden's allies have encouraged Democrats to write his name in. Despite not being on the ballot, Biden is expected to win the Democratic primary comfortably, although he faces competition from author Marianne Williamson and Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips.

The primary day in New Hampshire has seen voters making their way to the polling stations, accompanied by their dogs. However, the campaign trail has not been all smooth as Trump engaged in a social media spat with New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who has endorsed Haley, referring to him as a "loser." Meanwhile, Trump has already been labeled the "presumptive nominee" by Republican Party officials on account of winning the Iowa caucuses.

The results of the New Hampshire primary are expected to be announced tonight, potentially between 8 and 9 p.m. ET. In previous years, the Associated Press has made calls based on the margins of victory. It should be noted that Biden's write-in votes will require additional time to count, despite the DNC declaring that the results will not matter. With a significant number of registered Republicans in New Hampshire and the absence of Biden's name on the ballot, record-breaking Republican turnout is anticipated.

As the primary progresses, Trump and Haley continue their efforts to secure votes, delivering their final pitches to the Republican voters in New Hampshire. While Haley vows to remain in the race regardless of the primary results, Trump's possible pick for vice president sparks speculation, including figures like Rep. Elise Stefanik and Senators Tim Scott and J.D. Vance. Nonetheless, Haley has disinterest in the position, and Trump has ruled her out as a potential running mate.

Overall, the New Hampshire primary serves as a crucial battleground for the Republican nomination, setting the stage for the future direction of the party as the candidates vie for victory and party support.