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
Continue reading … BATTLEGROUND BRAWL — Democrats finally land candidate to take on incumbent Republican governor in key swing state.
—FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The last Democratic nominee, former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost every swing state to Trump in 2024 and passed last year on running for California governor in 2026, has also taken a hands-off approach.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Specifically, voters in a handful of swing states—Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Georgia—will decide our future.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Population trends suggest states dominated by Republicans are likely to gain House seats after the 2030 census, at the expense of swing states and those with Democratic voting majorities.
—David M. Drucker, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
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FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The last Democratic nominee, former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost every swing state to Trump in 2024 and passed last year on running for California governor in 2026, has also taken a hands-off approach.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Specifically, voters in a handful of swing states—Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Georgia—will decide our future.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Population trends suggest states dominated by Republicans are likely to gain House seats after the 2030 census, at the expense of swing states and those with Democratic voting majorities.
—David M. Drucker, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 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 21 Feb. 2026.
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