Republican Nimrata "Nikki" Randhawa Haley, the South Carolina-born daughter of Indian immigrants, was elected to the state House in 2004. She became a protégé of Gov. Mark Sanford, who was caught in a sex scandal last year. Haley attracted national attention during the primary campaign when she denied allegations of extramarital affairs and was the target of an ethnic slur from a state lawmaker who backed one of her opponents. Haley has been endorsed by Sanford, his ex-wife Jenny and Sarah Palin.