A "swing state" in U.S. political elections refers to a state where voter support is fairly even between Democratic and Republican candidates. This unpredictability makes swing states critical in determining the outcome of elections, as they can shift from one party to another in different election cycles. Candidates often focus their resources and campaign efforts in these states due to their potential to sway the overall electoral vote count. As a result, swing states play a pivotal role in shaping national policy directions and campaigning strategies, exemplifying the importance of state-level dynamics in federal elections.