running mate

American  

noun

1. a candidate for an office linked with another and more important office, as for the vice-presidency.

2. a horse entered in a race in which another, more important, horse from the same stable, or belonging to the same owner, is run.

3. a close companion.

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running mate British  

noun

1. a candidate for the subordinate of two linked positions, esp a candidate for the vice-presidency

2. a horse that pairs another in a team

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Etymology

Origin of running mate

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

running mate

Nixon chose Jr. to be his running mate in the 1960 presidential election, where they, of course, were beaten by Kennedy.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

After football, he became a congressman in the Buffalo area and, later, presidential candidate Bob Dole’s choice to join his Republican ticket as his vice presidential running mate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026

Last week she chose as her running mate center-left presidential candidate Juan Daniel Oviedo, who finished second in the primary with more than 1.2 million votes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026

He might serve as Vance’s running mate, I guess, but both in Munich and in general he strikes me more as a chirrupy Robin to JD’s would-be Dark Knight.

From Salon ● Feb. 22, 2026

John Edwards, Kerry’s former running mate from North Carolina, had launched his campaign a month prior to that, speaking in front of a New Orleans home that had been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama