wedge issue
noun
: a political issue that divides a candidate's supporters or the members of a party
Examples of wedge issue in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The campaign to undermine transgender treatments is sure to continue, in part because Republicans see transgender rights as a potent wedge issue to keep conservatives in their camp.
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Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The league has also continued to eliminate team housing benefits from proposals, which has become another wedge issue, even as the salary cap has increased.
—Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Republicans have found a wedge issue with overwhelming public support, and rather than acknowledging this reality, Democrats continue to spend political capital fighting a battle the public has already decided.
—Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2026
In Petro’s telling, right-wing politicians throughout the world have cynically used immigration as a wedge issue.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wedge issue
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Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The league has also continued to eliminate team housing benefits from proposals, which has become another wedge issue, even as the salary cap has increased.
—Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Republicans have found a wedge issue with overwhelming public support, and rather than acknowledging this reality, Democrats continue to spend political capital fighting a battle the public has already decided.
—Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2026
In Petro’s telling, right-wing politicians throughout the world have cynically used immigration as a wedge issue.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wedge issue
Cite this Entry
“Wedge issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wedge%20issue. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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