favorite son

noun, U.S. Politics.
1.
(at a national political convention) a candidate nominated for office by delegates from his or her own state.
Origin
1780-90, Americanism
British Dictionary definitions for favorite son

favorite son

noun
1.
(in the US) a politician popular in his home state but little admired beyond it
favorite son in Culture

favorite son definition


A political figure nominated for the presidency by his or her state's delegation to the national nominating convention of a major party. Favorite sons are rarely serious candidates for the party's nomination. By nominating a favorite son, the delegation honors its nominee while delaying its commitment until the more serious contenders for the nomination can be sorted out.

Idioms and Phrases with favorite son

favorite son

A person valued by his or her hometown or organization for his or her achievements, usually political, as in Mary hoped they would treat her as a favorite son and nominate her for state senator. This term was originally employed for a candidate nominated for office by his own locality. Today this usage may ignore gender, as in the example. [ c. 1780 ]