swing state

American  

[swing steyt] / ˈswɪŋ ˌsteɪt /

noun

U.S. Politics.

1. a state of the U.S. in which the Democratic and Republican candidates both have a good chance of winning and that is considered key to the outcome of a presidential election.

   the swing states of Ohio and Indiana.

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Etymology

Origin of swing state

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

"They know Rome wasn't built in a day," Vance said in the key, blue-collar swing state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

From Barron's

Pennsylvania’s status as the preeminent swing state is also why election watchers around the country had been eagerly anticipating Tuesday’s result—looking to it as a bellwether for bigger contests to follow.

From Slate

A death penalty swing state is one in which the death penalty remains an authorized punishment, but in which executions seldom occur and death sentences are seldom handed down.

From Slate

For many, Tuesday night was their first time meeting Ms Slotkin, who won the US Senate seat in the swing state of Michigan last year.

From BBC

The winner in any given state wins all of its electoral votes - for example, 19 in swing state Pennsylvania.

From BBC