Tantamount to election
Encyclopedia
"Tantamount to election" is a phrase to describe a situation in which one political party
so dominates the demographics
of a voting district, that the person winning the party nomination for a race (whether by primary
or another method) will virtually be assured of winning the general election. The phrase "safe seat
" is commonly used to describe such a district.
The phrase originated in the American Solid South
when and where the Republican Party
was so weak or nonexistent that the general elections were mere formalities, the election having effectively been decided within the Democratic Party. For example, after a stiff challenge by Republican-Populist
nominee John N. Pharr in Louisiana's 1896 gubernatorial election, the triumphant Democrats rewrote the state constitution "to disenfranchise blacks, Republicans, and white Populists, [so that] the Democratic nomination was tantamount to election."
The phrase "tantamount to election" may, nonetheless, be employed to describe an electoral situation in an overwhelmingly Republican area where candidates of the Democratic Party are up against very steep odds, or vice versa, or indeed in any electoral situation wherein dominance by one party renders candidates of other parties irrelevant.
Notable examples include Chicago's "Machine"
, the "Solid South
", New Orleans from Huey Long onward, and various other high density urban areas including Detroit,Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., and much of New Jersey, as well as gerrymandered districts in other states.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
so dominates the demographics
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
of a voting district, that the person winning the party nomination for a race (whether by primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
or another method) will virtually be assured of winning the general election. The phrase "safe seat
Safe seat
A safe seat is a seat in a legislative body which is regarded as fully secured, either by a certain political party, the incumbent representative personally or a combination of both...
" is commonly used to describe such a district.
The phrase originated in the American Solid South
Solid South
Solid South is the electoral support of the Southern United States for the Democratic Party candidates for nearly a century from 1877, the end of Reconstruction, to 1964, during the middle of the Civil Rights era....
when and where the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
was so weak or nonexistent that the general elections were mere formalities, the election having effectively been decided within the Democratic Party. For example, after a stiff challenge by Republican-Populist
Populist Party (United States)
The People's Party, also known as the "Populists", was a short-lived political party in the United States established in 1891. It was most important in 1892-96, then rapidly faded away...
nominee John N. Pharr in Louisiana's 1896 gubernatorial election, the triumphant Democrats rewrote the state constitution "to disenfranchise blacks, Republicans, and white Populists, [so that] the Democratic nomination was tantamount to election."
The phrase "tantamount to election" may, nonetheless, be employed to describe an electoral situation in an overwhelmingly Republican area where candidates of the Democratic Party are up against very steep odds, or vice versa, or indeed in any electoral situation wherein dominance by one party renders candidates of other parties irrelevant.
Notable examples include Chicago's "Machine"
Cook County Democratic Organization
The Cook County Democratic Organization is one of the most powerful political machines in American history. Historically called the "Chicago Democratic machine", or simply the "Chicago Machine", the organization has dominated Chicago politics since the 1930s...
, the "Solid South
Solid South
Solid South is the electoral support of the Southern United States for the Democratic Party candidates for nearly a century from 1877, the end of Reconstruction, to 1964, during the middle of the Civil Rights era....
", New Orleans from Huey Long onward, and various other high density urban areas including Detroit,Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., and much of New Jersey, as well as gerrymandered districts in other states.