Swing (seat)

A swing is a hanging seat, often found at playgrounds for children including adults a circus for acrobats, or on a porch for relaxing, although they may also be items of indoor furniture, such as the Indian oonjal. The seat of a swing may be suspended from chains or ropes. Once a swing is in motion it continues to oscillate like a pendulum until external interference or drag brings it to a halt. Swing sets are very popular with children.

On playgrounds, several swings are often suspended from the same metal or wooden frame, known as a swing set, allowing more than one child to play at a time. Such swings come in a variety of sizes and shapes. For infants and toddlers, swings with leg holes support the child in an upright position while a parent or sibling pushes the child to get a swinging motion. Some swing sets include play items other than swings, such as a rope ladder or sliding pole.

For older children, swings are sometimes made of a flexible canvas seat, of rubberized ventilated tire tread, of plastic, or of wood. A common backyard sight is a wooden plank suspended on both sides by ropes from a tree branch.

Marginal seat

A marginal seat or swing seat is a constituency held with a small majority in a legislative election, generally one conducted under a single-winner voting system. In Canada, they may be known as target ridings. The opposite is a safe seat.

These seats only require a small swing to change hands and therefore are typically the focus of most campaign resources. The concentration of money and manpower in areas where they will make the most difference is known as targeting.

Strategies for securing marginal seats

The creation of policy that will benefit a particular seat, at the expense of other taxpayers, is known as pork barreling.

Political parties often face tension between the holders of marginal seats and safe seats. Safe seats tend to be allocated far less discretionary resources—governmental as well as political—from their political party than do marginal seats.

A similar phenomenon happens in United States presidential elections, where the Electoral College system means that candidates must win states rather than votes. Again, resources are concentrated towards the swing states with the smallest majorities.

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Latest News for: swing (seat)

Trump’s pro-union labor secretary pick highlights GOP tensions

The Spokesman-Review 20 Feb 2025
Chavez-DeRemer, 56, is a moderate Republican who narrowly lost her House seat in November in a swing district that includes parts of Portland ... She served as mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon, a well-off Portland suburb, before winning a seat in Congress ... .

How a lawmaker once voted to abolish his own county | INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE

Tuscaloosanews.com 19 Feb 2025
Clay Scofield left to go with the Business Council of Alabama, there was an open Senate seat in the Sand Mountain/Marshall County area ... Marilyn Lands, a Huntsville Democrat, won one of the few swing seats in the legislature.

Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig weighs run for Senate

Roll Call 19 Feb 2025
If she does run for Senate, she would leave behind a swing district south of the Twin Cities that has been a battleground seat for the past few election cycles, though Craig won a fourth term last fall by double digits.

BCP Council invests almost £4m in play areas for children

BBC News 19 Feb 2025
A council has invested almost £4m to revitalise more than 100 play areas ... Some of the work includes a new seesaw in Littledown, a replacement goal in Southbourne and fixed swing seats in Christchurch ... Ms Moore said ... .

Washington DC carjacker is shot dead by police after astonishing act in full view of ...

The Daily Mail 19 Feb 2025
... swinging the knife towards the officer,' Smith said. The officer retreated to the passenger seat of the cruiser and shouted at the suspect to 'get back' - but he refused and kept swinging his knife.

Republicans worry Trump’s firings of federal workers will hit red states hard

The Oregonian 19 Feb 2025
All three swing states backed Trump ... The eight GOP-held House seats that could swing to Democrats following the 2026 midterms include Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, currently represented by Rep.

As a G.O.P. Congressman Takes Aim at Hochul, a Democrat Eyes His Seat

New York Times 18 Feb 2025
If Representative Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, runs for governor next year, Beth Davidson, a Democrat, hopes to win his swing seat in the Hudson Valley ... .

Stephen A. Smith Tells Pod Save America Bros to Stop Opposing Trump

The Daily Beast 18 Feb 2025
Trump won by 3 million votes, took every swing state, controls Congress, and is likely to pick up even more congressional seats during the ...

Dutton ponders minority government deal with crossbenchers as Coalition outstrips Labor in latest poll

The Observer 16 Feb 2025
The polling shows a national two-party preferred swing toward the Coalition of 3.2%, with Labor predicted to lose 15 seats, including those held by two government ministers - Pat Conroy in Shortland and Kristy McBain in Eden-Monaro.

Steve Price: Australia headed for 'worst possible outcome' in election

NewstalkZB 16 Feb 2025
If realised, Peter Dutton would have eight seats, where he needs 16. .

Oakland City Council special election will again test power of labor unions

The Mercury News 16 Feb 2025
The seat could potentially swing votes by the eight-member council this summer on Oakland’s financial future, with the council likely to be split on key decisions around a structural budget ...

Centre Dominated Administration Played A Big Role In Defeating AAP In Delhi Polls

The Arabian Post 13 Feb 2025
While the main reason for AAP’s defeat is the big swing away from it, it is also a fact that in 13 seats where the AAP lost, the Congress polled more votes than the margin of defeat.

House GOP budget resolution hangs in the balance as hardliners hold out support

The Hill 13 Feb 2025
Tomorrow will be a big day,” Rep ... Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) said ... “I do.” ... Rep ... Those demands, though, clash with the interests of moderates and swing-seat Republicans who believe some of the green tax credit provisions are important to their districts.

Senate Democrats could be locked out of power for a very long time

The Hill 12 Feb 2025
They also lost Bob Casey's seat in swing-state Pennsylvania (R+2) ... On the other side, Democrats will have to defend seats in several swing states ... perennial swing states of Georgia, Nevada and Arizona.

PETER VAN ONSELEN: Red alert! What  the stunning verdict voters delivered about Labor at the ...

The Daily Mail 10 Feb 2025
In 1990, the last time federal Labor suffered a major swing against it in Victoria (and state Labor was simultaneously on the nose), there was a 4.9 percent swing to the Liberals and they picked up eight seats.
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