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
Winners will have oversight of 2028 elections in swing states like Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
—Dan Merica, Washington Post, 10 May 2026
Both swing states will elect new secretaries of state and governors this year, and both states currently have people in the running who have denied election results.
—Miles Parks, NPR, 4 May 2026
But other competitive Democratic primaries could also give Republicans an opening in the presidential swing state of Michigan, which Trump won by less than two percentage points.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 3 May 2026
Pennsylvania has served as the proverbial swing state in presidential elections, flipping between the two parties over the last four elections.
—Dan Snyder, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swing state
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Dan Merica, Washington Post, 10 May 2026
Both swing states will elect new secretaries of state and governors this year, and both states currently have people in the running who have denied election results.
—Miles Parks, NPR, 4 May 2026
But other competitive Democratic primaries could also give Republicans an opening in the presidential swing state of Michigan, which Trump won by less than two percentage points.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 3 May 2026
Pennsylvania has served as the proverbial swing state in presidential elections, flipping between the two parties over the last four elections.
—Dan Snyder, CBS News, 30 Apr. 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 15 May. 2026.
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