swing state
noun
plural swing states
US politics
: a U.S. state in which Republican and Democratic candidates have similar levels of support and which is considered to play a key role in the outcome of presidential elections
The politics of immigration in Florida, a key swing state, are not as clear as they are in California.—
Tom Masland et al.
Tom Masland et al.If he is so polarizing, how was he elected five times in a swing state?—Nancy Gibbs et al.
Nancy Gibbs et al.Examples of swing state in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Few Democrats in the party's 2028 presidential sights have an opportunity to demonstrate political strength and party-building aptitude in swing states.
—CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Georgia Democrats on Thursday pitched Atlanta to host the party’s 2028 national convention, painting the city as the heart of a swing state that has become a key player in presidential elections.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Which has left some Democrats sweating the prospect that El-Sayed prevails in August, only to get hammered by Rogers as too far left for a swing state.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
About 55% of them voted for him in the 2024 election, many in swing states such as Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that had sided with Joe Biden — a Catholic — four years before.
—Gustavo Arellano, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
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CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Georgia Democrats on Thursday pitched Atlanta to host the party’s 2028 national convention, painting the city as the heart of a swing state that has become a key player in presidential elections.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Which has left some Democrats sweating the prospect that El-Sayed prevails in August, only to get hammered by Rogers as too far left for a swing state.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
About 55% of them voted for him in the 2024 election, many in swing states such as Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that had sided with Joe Biden — a Catholic — four years before.
—Gustavo Arellano, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swing state
Cite this Entry
“Swing state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swing%20state. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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