Definition
An incumbent politician vulnerable to defeat due to scandal, unpopular positions, or demographic shifts. Electoral targets that practically paint themselves.
Example Usage
After the ethics violations, the three-term congressman became a sitting duck, facing challengers from both parties.
Origin
From hunting terminology for stationary waterfowl, easy targets compared to flying birds, adopted politically in the 20th century
Fun Fact
Political scientists can identify sitting ducks early by tracking approval ratings, campaign fundraising, and quality of potential challengers.
Source: Electoral vulnerability terminology
Related Terms
Translate This Term
See “sitting duck” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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