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
Control of swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina will be central to determining the balance of power in Congress in the 2026 midterms.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Pennsylvania has also become a key swing state in recent elections, with former President Biden picking it up in 2020 and President Trump picking it up in 2024.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
Gallego’s 2024 victory over Republican Kari Lake happened as President Donald Trump carried the state by the most comfortable margin of any swing state on the map last year.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 30 Sep. 2025
The state has 300,000 people of Middle Eastern descent, and 150,000 votes or fewer have swayed the critical swing state in the last three presidential elections in Michigan.
—Ron Kampeas, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2025
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Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Pennsylvania has also become a key swing state in recent elections, with former President Biden picking it up in 2020 and President Trump picking it up in 2024.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
Gallego’s 2024 victory over Republican Kari Lake happened as President Donald Trump carried the state by the most comfortable margin of any swing state on the map last year.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 30 Sep. 2025
The state has 300,000 people of Middle Eastern descent, and 150,000 votes or fewer have swayed the critical swing state in the last three presidential elections in Michigan.
—Ron Kampeas, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 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 22 Oct. 2025.
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