favorite son

American  

noun

U.S. Politics.

1. (at a national political convention) a candidate nominated for office by delegates from the candidate's own state.

---

favorite son British  

noun

1. (in the US) a politician popular in his home state but little admired beyond it

---

favorite son Cultural  

1. A political figure nominated for the presidency by his or her state's delegation to the national nominating convention of a major party. Favorite sons are rarely serious candidates for the party's nomination. By nominating a favorite son, the delegation honors its nominee while delaying its commitment until the more serious contenders for the nomination can be sorted out.

---

favorite son Idioms  

1. A person valued by his or her hometown or organization for his or her achievements, usually political, as in Mary hoped they would treat her as a favorite son and nominate her for state senator. This term was originally employed for a candidate nominated for office by his own locality. Today this usage may ignore gender, as in the example. [c. 1780]

---

Etymology

Origin of favorite son

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

Ross adored animals, frequently bringing a few of his favorite furry friends on camera with him – including Peapod, his “pocket” squirrel.

From Salon • May 2, 2026

If you’d prefer to curl up next to your favorite furry friend at night, and reunite with your human partner in the morning, that might just be a new trick that works for everyone.

From Washington Post • Nov. 18, 2021

Related Words

• applicant
• aspirant
• bidder
• competitor
• contender
• contestant
• nominee
• successor