machine politician
Backroom power broker
A machine politician is someone who operates within a political machine—a tightly organized party apparatus that trades favors, patronage, and jobs for votes and loyalty.
The term implies a focus on maintaining power through deals and organization rather than ideology or reform: He was a machine politician who never forgot a favor or forgave a slight.
Often contrasted with reformers or idealists.
Illicit political gain
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
embezzlement · extortion · patronage · plunder · racketeering · scandal · malfeasance · sleaze
Workplace superior
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- wardProtected person; division
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
- caucusParty selection meeting
convention · smoke-filled · patronage · spoils · ticket · slate · delegate · operative
Manipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
coercion · intimidation · mobilization · turnout · registration · canvassing · ballot · stuffing
graft
Illicit political gain
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
nepotism · embezzlement · extortion · patronage · plunder · racketeering · scandal · malfeasance · sleaze · payoff
boss
Workplace superior
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- wardProtected person; division
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
caucus · convention · smoke-filled · patronage · spoils · ticket · slate · delegate · operative · fixer
gerrymandering
Manipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- schemingCrafty and calculating
leverage · coercion · intimidation · mobilization · turnout · registration · canvassing · ballot · stuffing · fraud
- power brokerspowerbroker, kingpin, kingmakers, puppeteer, kingmaker
- political operativescampaign manager, strategist, campaign aide, staffer, adviser
machine politicianmaverick
Independent-minded rule-breaker
independent · insurgent · free agent · lone wolf · dark horse
machine, politician, machines, machined, machining, machinery, machinist, politics, political