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
As trans people ran for office and starred in television shows, right-wing strategists decided they could be used as a wedge issue to drive conservative voters to the polls.
—
Casey Parks, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
But this rule, outlining a particular version of the country’s automotive future, has arrived just as Republicans are trying to create a wedge issue out of electric vehicles as a signature Biden climate effort.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024
That would essentially be a cut – a strong signal given the surge of migrants at the southern border and that immigration is a key wedge issue in an election year.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Over the course of several decades, Israel has become a difficult wedge issue for Democratic politicians.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
The thumbs-down response to Pritzker’s rah-rah moment reflects a growing recognition among the GOP that bashing electric vehicles is a potent wedge issue.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024
Environmental groups oppose the measure, saying that the United Kingdom should focus on renewables and that the move is an attempt to create a wedge issue with the opposition Labour Party.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2023
But Israel is emerging as a wedge issue in American politics.
—Jeremy Lott, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024
But Wednesday evening’s 314-117 vote on President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s deal to raise the debt ceiling created a wedge issue that split the trio, deepening their months-long debate over their progressive bona fides.
—Owen Tucker-Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2023
Casey Parks, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
But this rule, outlining a particular version of the country’s automotive future, has arrived just as Republicans are trying to create a wedge issue out of electric vehicles as a signature Biden climate effort.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024
That would essentially be a cut – a strong signal given the surge of migrants at the southern border and that immigration is a key wedge issue in an election year.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Over the course of several decades, Israel has become a difficult wedge issue for Democratic politicians.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
The thumbs-down response to Pritzker’s rah-rah moment reflects a growing recognition among the GOP that bashing electric vehicles is a potent wedge issue.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024
Environmental groups oppose the measure, saying that the United Kingdom should focus on renewables and that the move is an attempt to create a wedge issue with the opposition Labour Party.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2023
But Israel is emerging as a wedge issue in American politics.
—Jeremy Lott, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024
But Wednesday evening’s 314-117 vote on President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s deal to raise the debt ceiling created a wedge issue that split the trio, deepening their months-long debate over their progressive bona fides.
—Owen Tucker-Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2023
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.
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“Wedge issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wedge%20issue. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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