What is a swing state?
A swing state, also called a battleground or purple state, is a state where support for Democrats and Republicans is close enough that either could win a statewide race. Most states reliably vote one way, so close states get outsized attention from campaigns.
In presidential elections this matters because of the Electoral College: 48 states and D.C. award all of their electoral votes to the statewide winner (Maine and Nebraska split theirs by congressional district), and a candidate needs 270 to win. A few thousand votes in one close state can decide the presidency.
How swing states are defined
There is no official list. Analysts and campaigns usually look at:
Recent results
States where recent statewide elections were decided by a few percentage points, or where control has flipped between parties.
Polling
States where polls show neither party with a clear lead heading into an election.
Race ratings
Nonpartisan forecasters publish ratings such as toss-up or lean. Their lists change through the cycle and do not always agree.
Where campaigns spend
In practice, a swing state is where both sides send candidates, staff, money, and volunteers.
List of swing states
The seven states most widely treated as presidential battlegrounds in 2024.
| State | Operation Swing State canvasses here? |
|---|---|
| Arizona | No (help by phone or postcard) |
| Georgia | No (help by phone or postcard) |
| Michigan | Yes, weekend trips from Chicago → |
| Nevada | No (help by phone or postcard) |
| North Carolina | No (help by phone or postcard) |
| Pennsylvania | No (help by phone or postcard) |
| Wisconsin | Yes, weekend trips from Chicago → |
Democrats lost the presidential race in all seven in 2024. Wisconsin had the narrowest margin of the group, under one percentage point. Lists from other sources sometimes add or drop a state, which is why it helps to look at how a state is defined rather than a single list.
Swing states in 2026
There is no presidential race on the November 3, 2026 ballot, so “swing state” shifts from the Electoral College to the races that are on it: all 435 U.S. House seats, about a third of the U.S. Senate, and most of the nation’s governorships. Control of Congress comes down to a relatively small number of close Senate races and House districts.
That makes the 2026 picture race-by-race. Many of the 2024 battlegrounds have close statewide races again, and a single competitive congressional district can matter even in a state that is not a swing state overall. Forecasters’ ratings for individual races change through the fall, so check a current source before relying on any one list.
The swing states we send volunteers to
Operation Swing State organizes free weekend carpools from Chicagoland to the closest competitive races.
Wisconsin
The closest of the 2024 swing states, both in distance and in margin. Wisconsin has a governor’s race and competitive U.S. House districts in 2026.
Wisconsin trips →Michigan
A 2024 swing state with an open U.S. Senate seat in 2026, a governor’s race, and competitive U.S. House districts.
Michigan trips →Iowa
Not on most presidential swing-state lists, but Iowa’s 3rd congressional district is competitive, so some shifts go there.
Iowa trips →Can’t travel? Reach voters in any swing state by phone banking from home or writing postcards.
Is Illinois a swing state?
No. Illinois has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1992. Chicago is within a short drive of Wisconsin and Michigan, though, which is why Illinois volunteers carpool across the state line. Read why Illinois isn’t a swing state, or see midterm volunteer opportunities for Illinois Democrats.
Swing state FAQs
What is a swing state?
A swing state, also called a battleground or purple state, is a state where support for the two major parties is close enough that either could win a statewide election. Because the outcome is uncertain, campaigns and volunteers concentrate their time and money there.
Which states are swing states?
The seven states most widely treated as presidential battlegrounds in 2024 were Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. There is no official list; the term describes how close recent results and polling have been.
Are there swing states in 2026 if there is no presidential election?
Yes. In a midterm year the term shifts to states with close races for U.S. Senate, governor, and the U.S. House. Many of the same states are competitive again, and individual congressional districts can be competitive even in states that are not.
Is Illinois a swing state?
No. Illinois has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1992. That is why Chicago-area volunteers travel to nearby swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Which swing states are closest to Chicago?
Wisconsin and Michigan. Most Wisconsin canvass sites Operation Swing State volunteers visit are 60 to 90 minutes from Chicago, and southwest Michigan sites are roughly 90 minutes to 2.5 hours away.
How can I volunteer in a swing state if I don't live in one?
You can travel to canvass, which is the most direct way, or help remotely by phone banking and writing postcards to swing-state voters. Operation Swing State organizes free weekend carpools from Chicagoland plus virtual phone banks and postcard parties.
Help win the swing states next door
Free weekend carpools from Chicagoland. Training on site, no experience needed.