Nikki Haley’s Unspoken Disadvantage in the G.O.P.

By Michelle Cottle

Produced by Vishakha Darbha

The Republican Party doesn’t like to talk about identity. And that has been on full display throughout Nikki Haley’s primary campaign.

But Michelle Cottle, an Opinion writer and a co-host of the “Matter of Opinion” podcast, thinks that the party’s tendency to avoid identity politics at all costs, especially gender, may be alienating parts of the electorate. In this audio essay, Michelle argues that despite Haley’s historic run (as the first woman to ever win a Republican presidential primary), the G.O.P. isn’t on a path to elevating more women in the party any time soon.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication in the audio player above.)

Credit…Illustration by Akshita Chandra/The New York Times; Photograph by Joel Page/Reuters

This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin and Alison Bruzek. Engineering by Efim Shapiro with mixing by Sonia Herrero. Original music by Carole Sabouraud and Isaac Jones. Fact-checking by Mary Marge Locker. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: [email protected].

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, X (@NYTOpinion) and Instagram.