OnPolitics: Former SC Gov. Nikki Haley enters presidential race, challenging Trump

Hi OnPolitics readers! On this Valentine's Day, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley officially launched her presidential bid, which she's been teasing for a few weeks now. 

Haley's announcement makes her the first major Republican to challenge former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, Paste BN's Mabinty Quarshie and David Jackson report. 

🔎 Who is Nikki Haley?: Learn more about the former governor, UN ambassador, and what she supports

📚 Keep reading: What Haley's announcement means for the Republican field

🗳️ In related election news: As GOP starting gate for 2024 presidential race, Iowa sees surge of announced and potential candidates

What else is going on in Washington? 

Short dispatches from today's live blog for the political news enthusiast:

• California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the longest serving woman senator, announced she won't seek reelection in 2024, leaving the seat open in the deep blue state.
• Flying objects could be research, commercial activity: The U.S. intelligence community is considering as a “leading explanation” that three unidentified flying objects shot down from North American airspace were balloons used by research or commercial entities, White House spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday.
• Mike Pence to challenge subpoena: The former vice president is planning to challenge a subpoena from a Justice Department special counsel investigating Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, two people familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

🚨Stay updated: Follow along for the day's biggest headlines with our live blog, which is updated in real-time.

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