Nikki came in 2nd because of Independents and Democrats

Some 51% percent of voters in New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary contest considered themselves Republicans, down from 55% in the party's 2016 contest, according to an exit poll conducted Tuesday by Edison Research.

New Hampshire is a semi-open primary, allowing "undeclared" registered voters to vote in either primary, giving independents a say in the Republican presidential nominating contest.

Roughly two-thirds of undeclared independents broke for runner-up Nikki Haley on Tuesday night.