Nikki Haley mourns loss of ‘amazing’ father on Father’s Day

During her 2024 presidential run, Haley, “the proud daughter of Indian immigrants” frequently brought up her parents

By Arun Kumar

“With a heavy heart,” former Indian American Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is mourning the death of her “amazing” father, Ajit Singh Randhawa, on Father’s Day Sunday.

“This morning I had to say goodbye to the smartest, sweetest, kindest, most decent man I have ever known. My heart is heavy knowing he is gone,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter, with a picture of her hugging her father.

“He taught his kids the importance of faith, hard work, and grace. He was an amazing husband of 64 years, a loving grandfather and great grandfather, and the best father to his four children,” Haley wrote. He was such a blessing to all of us. Happy Father’s Day Dad. We will miss you dearly.”

Randhawa, who was originally from India’s Punjab region, first moved to Canada to get a PhD at the University of British Columbia, then moved to Bamberg, South Carolina in 1969 and taught biology at nearby Voorhees College, a historically Black institution.

Haley, who would go on to become the state’s governor, was born three years later.

During her 2024 presidential run, Haley frequently brought up her parents. “I see America leading the world in freedom and in peace. But this vision isn’t just mine,” Haley told the crowd in Charleston, South Carolina, in February when she announced her run.

“It’s the core of our nation’s history, and it called to my parents over 50 years ago. I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants.”

Haley, the first Indian American to get a cabinet rank as US ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, did not disclose her father’s age or cause of death in the post.

Haley was the last Republican primary presidential contender to drop out of the 2024 race, eventually bowing out and giving a clear path to former President Trump in March.

In January, Haley briefly left the campaign trail to visit her father in the hospital in South Carolina, Politico reported. Reports at the time said he had an unspecified type of cancer.