: characterized by or expressing opposition to or disapproval of current political officeholders
Some would argue that 1994 was a mere extension of the anti-incumbent mood in 1992 that toppled President George Bush …—
Donald R. Wolfensberger
Donald R. WolfensbergerExamples of anti-incumbent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The party was facing an uphill battle from the jump, with an anti-incumbent mood sweeping through other affluent democracies around the world.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024
One is being the party that is not in control of the White House at a time when Biden has low approval ratings and there is an anti-incumbent mood across Western democracies.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 3 Nov. 2024
Polls and election results in Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Japan and South Korea all show this anti-incumbent tide.
—Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
Other campaigns, too, are watching with more than a little trepidation: if a latent anti-incumbent seed is blooming so late in Nebraska, where else might shockingly tight contests emerge?
Make sense of what matters in Washington.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024
The third lesson of the recent elections concerns the power of an anti-incumbent message in a world still dealing with stagnant economic growth, rising income inequality, high rates of international migration and the lingering impact of inflation.
—Max Boot, Washington Post, 8 July 2024
The aftermath To some extent, Sunak’s biggest crime is simply to be in office during a widespread anti-incumbent trend throughout the Western democratic world.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 2 July 2024
Having so many opponents might work to the mayor’s advantage, as his four competitors could divide the anti-incumbent vote.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2024
In all of them, there was an anti-incumbent swing, in no small measure driven by the price rises and tax rises that were bound to follow after governments took to paying people to stay at home.
—Dan Hannan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 June 2024
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024
One is being the party that is not in control of the White House at a time when Biden has low approval ratings and there is an anti-incumbent mood across Western democracies.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 3 Nov. 2024
Polls and election results in Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Japan and South Korea all show this anti-incumbent tide.
—Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
Other campaigns, too, are watching with more than a little trepidation: if a latent anti-incumbent seed is blooming so late in Nebraska, where else might shockingly tight contests emerge?
Make sense of what matters in Washington.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024
The third lesson of the recent elections concerns the power of an anti-incumbent message in a world still dealing with stagnant economic growth, rising income inequality, high rates of international migration and the lingering impact of inflation.
—Max Boot, Washington Post, 8 July 2024
The aftermath To some extent, Sunak’s biggest crime is simply to be in office during a widespread anti-incumbent trend throughout the Western democratic world.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 2 July 2024
Having so many opponents might work to the mayor’s advantage, as his four competitors could divide the anti-incumbent vote.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2024
In all of them, there was an anti-incumbent swing, in no small measure driven by the price rises and tax rises that were bound to follow after governments took to paying people to stay at home.
—Dan Hannan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 June 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Anti-incumbent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-incumbent. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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