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
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Since then, Republicans have surged in the state, securing super-majorities in the Florida Legislature, expanding GOP dominance in the Florida congressional delegation and ending the days when Florida was known as the nation’s largest swing state.
—Siena Duncan, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
Rapid change Once the premier swing state in the country, one that could go either way in a presidential election, Florida has rapidly become bright Republican red.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2025
Jolly formally announced his bid Thursday, becoming the latest party convert hoping to wrest back control of what had been the country's premier swing state before shifting hard to the right in recent years.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Michigan is often regarded as a key swing state in the presidential race—with close margins in the past election and 15 electoral votes up for grabs.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 May 2025
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Siena Duncan, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
Rapid change Once the premier swing state in the country, one that could go either way in a presidential election, Florida has rapidly become bright Republican red.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2025
Jolly formally announced his bid Thursday, becoming the latest party convert hoping to wrest back control of what had been the country's premier swing state before shifting hard to the right in recent years.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Michigan is often regarded as a key swing state in the presidential race—with close margins in the past election and 15 electoral votes up for grabs.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 May 2025
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 3 Jul. 2025.
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