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'''Swing states''', also called '''battleground states''' (and, colloquially, "purple states"), are [[state]]s in which neither the [[Republican]] nor [[Democratic]] candidate has a clear majority of the voters' support before a Presidential election, and therefore could "swing" the presidential election outcome in either direction. These states are where the majority of the campaigning takes place for both parties.

'''Swing states''', also called '''battleground states''' (and, colloquially, "purple states"), are [[state]]s in which neither the [[Republican]] nor [[Democratic]] candidate has a clear majority of the voters' support before a Presidential election, and therefore could "swing" the presidential election outcome in either direction. These states are where the majority of the campaigning takes place for both parties.

In 2024, the top swing states were [[Arizona]], [[Georgia]], and [[Wisconsin]], and [[Donald Trump]] won by capturing all three.  [[Michigan]] has become a swing state for 2024 due to [[Biden]]'s push for job-eliminating [[electric vehicles]], and [[Nevada]] was also considered a swing state<ref>https://www.aol.com/news/four-swing-states-determine-2024-172546726.html</ref>, Trump also won those states as well.

In 2024, the top swing states were [[Arizona]], [[Georgia]], and [[Wisconsin]], and [[Donald Trump]] won by capturing all three.  [[Michigan]] has become a swing state for 2024 due to [[Biden]]'s push for job-eliminating [[electric vehicles]], and [[Nevada]] was also considered a swing state,<ref>https://www.aol.com/news/four-swing-states-determine-2024-172546726.html</ref> Trump also won those states as well.

According to [[CNN]] as of September 4, 2023:

According to [[CNN]] as of September 4, 2023:

Hundreds of millions of dollars in negative ads by [[Super PAC]]s are spent almost entirely in swing states, where the presidential election outcome is expected to be decided.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in negative ads by [[Super PAC]]s are spent almost entirely in swing states, where the presidential election outcome is expected to be decided.

A notable example of a swing state from 2000-2016 is [[Florida]], where the southern portion of the state is solidly Democratic (excluding areas with large Cuban populations that historically vote Republican), the central portion leans Democratic, while the northern (especially among the many military bases, but excluding the Tallahassee area) and southwestern portions are solidly Republican.  The swing state phenomenon was most notable in the 2000 Presidential Election, where the [[mainstream media]] called the state for Al Gore (before polls had closed in the Florida panhandle; as that area is solidly Republican some believe this was done intentionally to suppress the vote), only to have to walk their initial predictions back; then the country had to wait weeks before the winner was declared (George W. Bush, by a mere 537 votes).  Because of that, and the normally warm weather during the campaign season (where the weather is cold in many other swing states), Florida is a popular place for Presidential campaigning.

A notable example of a swing state from 2000-2016 is [[Florida]], where the southern portion of the state is solidly Democratic (excluding areas with large Cuban populations that historically vote Republican), the central portion leans Democratic, while the northern (especially among the many military bases, but excluding the Tallahassee area) and southwestern portions are solidly Republican.  The swing state phenomenon was most notable in the 2000 Presidential Election, where the [[mainstream media]] called the state for Al Gore (before polls had closed in the Florida panhandle; as that area is solidly Republican, some believe this was done intentionally to suppress the vote), only to have to walk their initial predictions back; then the country had to wait weeks before the winner was declared (George W. Bush, by a mere 537 votes).  Because of that, and the normally warm weather during the campaign season (where the weather is cold in many other swing states), Florida was a popular place for Presidential campaigning until 2024, when [[Kamala Harris]] had no chance of defeating Trump there.

Within swing states, there are key counties that are [[Pivot county|swing/pivotal counties]].  

Within swing states, there are key counties that are [[Pivot county|swing/pivotal counties]].  

===Arizona===

===Arizona===

Trump received 49% of the vote in [[Arizona]] in 2016, a plurality slightly higher than [[Hillary Clinton|Clinton]]'s total of 45%.<ref>[https://www.270towin.com/states/Arizona 270towin Arizona], retrieved August 28, 2020</ref> Polling as of late August 2020 shows a close race with [[Joe Biden]] slightly ahead.<ref name="RCP Arizona">[https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/az/arizona_trump_vs_biden-6807.html RealClearPolitics Arizona], retrieved August 28, 2020</ref> A Trafalgar poll conducted in October showed Trump two points ahead of Biden.<ref name="RCP Arizona" /><ref>[https://www.thetrafalgargroup.org/news/az-pres-103020/ Trafalgar Arizona Poll], retrieved November 3, 2020</ref> As of November 8, 2020, results, 97% reporting, showed Biden with a 20,000-vote lead,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-arizona.html NY Times 2020 Election Results Arizona], retrieved November 8, 2020</ref> though this was significantly smaller than Biden's lead on election night.

Trump received 49% of the vote in [[Arizona]] in 2016, a plurality slightly higher than [[Hillary Clinton|Clinton]]'s total of 45%.<ref>[https://www.270towin.com/states/Arizona 270towin Arizona], retrieved August 28, 2020</ref> Polling as of late August 2020 shows a close race with [[Joe Biden]] slightly ahead.<ref name="RCP Arizona">[https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/az/arizona_trump_vs_biden-6807.html RealClearPolitics Arizona], retrieved August 28, 2020</ref> A Trafalgar poll conducted in October showed Trump two points ahead of Biden.<ref name="RCP Arizona" /><ref>[https://www.thetrafalgargroup.org/news/az-pres-103020/ Trafalgar Arizona Poll], retrieved November 3, 2020</ref> As of November 8, 2020, the results with 97% of precincts reporting showed Biden having a 20,000-vote lead,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-arizona.html NY Times 2020 Election Results Arizona], retrieved November 8, 2020</ref> though this was significantly smaller than Biden's lead on election night.

===Florida===

===Florida===