primarying

American  

[prahy-mer-ee-ing, -muh-ree-] / ˈpraɪ mɛr i ɪŋ, -mə ri- /

noun

U.S. Politics.

1. the mounting of a challenge to the incumbent in a primary election.

   There were many instances of primarying during the last election cycle.

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Etymology

Origin of primarying

First recorded in 2010–15; primary ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Mrs. Maloney and Mr. Nadler found themselves primarying one another this election cycle, after 30 years of serving together as political allies in Congress, because a court-appointed special master re-drew parts of their original districts into one Manhattan district.

From Washington Times

“We need to make sure that we’re holding gun shops and gun manufacturers accountable,” says Kina Collins, a gun-violence prevention advocate who is primarying Congressman Danny Davis in Illinois’ 7th District—which includes some of Chicago’s hardest-hit neighborhoods, as well as parts of suburbs where gun dealerships are located.

From Scientific American

“You have AOC fighting right now about whether or not she’s going to end up primarying Chuck Schumer … you have The Squad that’s coming out very intensely, very angry that Biden hasn’t filled his Cabinet with more progressives.”

From Washington Times

“Senator Sanders seriously considered primarying Barack Obama in 2012 and routinely criticized him and his proposals. So if this is a race between former Vice President Biden and Senator Sanders as to who has the experience and the vision that moves forward the Obama-Biden agenda, it’s undeniably Joe Biden.”

From New York Times

Mr. Romney, however, reportedly decided against primarying the incumbent president, but he may work to defeat Mr. Trump away from the ballot box.

From Washington Times