Definition

The electoral boost that down-ballot candidates receive from a popular candidate at the top of the ticket. It's political drafting, NASCAR-style, except with votes instead of reduced wind resistance.

Example Usage

The governor's 20-point victory created such strong coattails that her party flipped six state legislative seats.

Origin

From the phrase 'riding on someone's coattails,' meaning benefiting from another's success

Fun Fact

Ronald Reagan's 1980 landslide gave Republicans such strong coattails that they gained 12 Senate seats and control of the chamber.

Source: Electoral analysis terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

pocket veto

The presidential power to kill legislation by simply doing nothing when Congress adjourns within ten days of passing it, weaponizing procrastination like a college student discovering the syllabus doesn't require actual attendance. The bill dies without a formal rejection.

🏛️ Government / Politics
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nuclear option

A dramatic parliamentary maneuver where the majority party unilaterally changes Senate rules, typically to eliminate the filibuster for certain votes. Called 'nuclear' because it's theoretically devastating but both parties keep doing it anyway.

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exit poll

Surveys of voters immediately after they've cast ballots, offering the media a chance to predict results before they're official and occasionally be spectacularly wrong. It's democracy's spoiler alert, assuming people tell strangers the truth about their votes.

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floor action

Activity that occurs when legislation is being debated and voted on by the full chamber, as opposed to committee work. When lawmakers finally have to show up and go on record instead of hiding behind committee proceedings.

🏛️ Government / Politics
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omnibus legislation

A massive bill bundling many separate measures into one package, forcing legislators to accept good and bad together. It's democracy's version of holiday fruitcake—nobody wants all of it, but it comes as one indigestible mass.

🏛️ Government / Politics
Intermediate

scorched earth

A political strategy of total destruction—burning every bridge, leaking every secret, and destroying all goodwill on your way down. It's the nuclear option of political warfare, leaving nothing but ashes and awkward future encounters.

🏛️ Government / Politics

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