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.

If he is so polarizing, how was he elected five times in a swing state?

—Nancy Gibbs et al.

Examples of swing state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What will be just as interesting is if Democrats start thinking of Texas as a swing state, too, and whether their Presidential nominee in 2028 is tempted to put James Talarico or Gina Hinojosa on the ticket. — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2026

Since then, Georgia has evolved from a state that consistently elects Republicans to federal and state office to a swing state with Democratic senators. — Sarah Kallis, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

And in Georgia, Democrats captured a governorship in a premier presidential swing state in Tuesday's midterm elections, winning the governor's office for the first time since 1998. — Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026

The president won the popular vote and every swing state, but his popularity has plummeted over the high cost of gas, public corruption scandals and the war with Iran. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for swing state

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate