wedge issue

noun

: a political issue that divides a candidate's supporters or the members of a party

Examples of wedge issue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The reinstatement of traditional pension plans has become a major wedge issue with the workers pushing for it strongly while Boeing has rejected it outright. —

Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 Overall, Trump’s campaign seems hopeful that electric vehicles and skepticism about Biden’s climate policy could be enough of a wedge issue to drive voters away from Democrats in important states like Michigan. —

Monica Potts, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2024 That’s true even for Latino and Hispanic voters — long seen as being the voting group most amenable to a pro-immigrant, Democratic message — and it’s being used as a wedge issue by Republicans among Black voters as well. —

Christian Paz, Vox, 25 Sep. 2024 Republicans fear that Obama's ultimate political ambition is to break the back of the modern GOP, and the defense budget is the ultimate wedge issue to do the job. —

Bret Stephens, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2013 See all Example Sentences for wedge issue