wedge issue

noun

: a political issue that divides a candidate's supporters or the members of a party

Examples of wedge issue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It’s become an effective wedge issue for right-wing politicians around the world. —

Mark Gongloff, The Mercury News, 28 June 2024 So Republicans certainly see it as a wedge issue culturally. —

Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 28 May 2024 Those findings fly in the face of years of Republican anti-trans bills and talking points, as conservatives have attempted to use gender-affirming care as a political wedge issue. —

Samantha Riedel, Them, 28 June 2024 Connecticut legislators have evinced little appetite for voting to affirm the California standards in April — a certain wedge issue, given Republicans’ near-unanimous opposition in Hartford — if a Democratic administration in Washington is about to go the other way. —

Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wedge issue

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wedge issue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.