🇬🇧 For UK Students: Terms marked with 🔄 have UK comparisons
Electoral System
Electoral College 🔄
The system used to elect the US President. Each state has electoral votes roughly proportional to population. Win a state, win ALL its electoral votes (in most states). Need 270 of 538 to win.
🇬🇧 Unlike UK general elections where you vote directly for MPs, Americans technically vote for "electors" who then vote for President.
Swing State / Battleground 🔄
A state where both parties have a realistic chance of winning. These 5-7 states effectively decide the election.
🇬🇧 Like UK "marginal constituencies" — but imagine if only 7 constituencies decided the entire election.
Winner-Take-All
In 48 states, whoever wins the most votes gets ALL of that state's electoral votes. Win Pennsylvania by 1 vote or 1 million — you still get all 19 EVs. (Only Maine and Nebraska split their EVs.)
Faithless Elector
An elector who votes for someone other than their state's winner. Rare but legal in some states. In 2016, seven electors voted against their state's result — the most since 1872.
Contingent Election
If no candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives chooses the President — with each STATE delegation getting one vote (not each Representative). Last used in 1824.
Bellwether State
A state that historically votes for the winning candidate. Ohio was considered a bellwether (no Republican has won without it) until Trump won without it in 2024.
Campaign Finance 💰
Citizens United v. FEC (2010) 🔄
Landmark Supreme Court ruling that political spending is protected "free speech." Allowed unlimited spending by corporations and unions through Super PACs. Revolutionised US campaign finance.
🇬🇧 No UK equivalent — British elections have strict spending caps. This case is why US campaigns cost billions.
Super PAC
Political Action Committee that can raise UNLIMITED money from any source. Officially cannot "coordinate" with campaigns (but practically, they do). Created by Citizens United.
Dark Money
Political spending where the donors are hidden. 501(c)(4) "social welfare" groups can spend on politics without revealing who funds them. Over $1 billion spent in 2020.
Hard Money vs Soft Money
Hard money: Direct donations to campaigns, limited to $3,300 per person per election. Soft money: Unlimited donations to parties for "party building" — now largely replaced by Super PACs.
Campaign Strategy
Ground Game
Grassroots campaign operations: field offices, door-knocking (canvassing), phone banks, voter registration drives. Labour-intensive but highly effective for turnout.
Air War
TV ads, radio spots, and digital advertising. Expensive but reaches millions. Swing states see "saturation bombing" of ads in final weeks — sometimes 10+ per hour.
Voter File / Microtargeting
Campaigns maintain databases on millions of voters: age, address, voting history, consumer data, predicted preferences. Used to "microtarget" specific messages to specific voters.
GOTV (Get Out The Vote)
Final push to ensure supporters actually vote. Includes rides to polls, reminder calls, door-knocking. In close elections, turnout operations decide the winner.
Coat-tail Effect
When a popular presidential candidate helps other candidates from their party win. A strong Democratic nominee might help elect Democratic Senators and Representatives.
October Surprise
A major news event in the final weeks before Election Day that can shift the race. Could be scandal, foreign crisis, economic news, etc. Examples: Comey letter (2016), Access Hollywood tape (2016).
Regional Blocs
Rust Belt
Industrial states in the Midwest/Northeast (PA, MI, WI, OH). Named for declining manufacturing. Working-class, union-heavy voters. Key battleground region.
Sun Belt
Southern and Southwestern states (AZ, GA, NC, NV, TX, FL). Growing population, increasingly diverse. Trending more competitive as demographics shift.
Blue Wall / Red Wall
States that reliably vote Democrat (blue) or Republican (red). The Democratic "Blue Wall" traditionally included PA, MI, WI — until Trump broke through in 2016.
Voters & Demographics
Base vs Swing Voters
Base: Reliable party supporters who need motivation to turn out. Swing voters: Persuadable moderates who could vote either way. Strategy must balance both.
Suburban Voters
Voters in suburbs surrounding major cities. Often college-educated, moderate. Have shifted significantly toward Democrats since 2016, especially women.
Latino/Hispanic Vote
Fastest-growing demographic in US. Not monolithic: Cuban-Americans (Florida) lean Republican; Mexican-Americans (Southwest) lean Democratic. Turnout is key battleground.
Other Terms
Momentum
Campaign energy and media narrative. High momentum means favourable coverage, enthusiastic crowds, and donors opening wallets. Can shift quickly with one gaffe or news cycle.
401(k)
US retirement savings account (like a UK workplace pension). Invested in stocks/bonds, so market performance directly affects voters' retirement savings — making the economy personally felt.