carpetbagger

Definition

A politician who moves to a new district or state purely to run for office there, often with no real ties to the community. Democracy's version of a transplant who immediately starts complaining about local customs.

Example Usage

Opponents attacked the Senate candidate as a carpetbagger who'd only lived in the state for eight months before declaring his candidacy.

Origin

Post-Civil War term for Northern opportunists who moved South carrying their belongings in luggage made from carpet fabric

Fun Fact

Hillary Clinton successfully overcame carpetbagger accusations when she moved to New York to run for Senate in 2000, winning by 12 points.

Source: Electoral politics terminology

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