running mate

plural running mates · alternative running-mate

1. governmentA candidate on a joint ticket.
2. USgovernmentA candidate for the US vice-presidency.

   Noem’s latest justification for fatally shooting Cricket at her farm[…]comes as fellow Republicans have all but written off her chances of being chosen as Donald Trump’s running mate in November’s presidential election.

   2024 May 5, Ramon Antonio Vargas, Edward Helmore, “Kristi Noem defends killing dog: ‘I’m tired of politicians pretending to be what they’re not’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   1 more example

   My first decision after being assured of victory was to choose my running mate. I decided that I needed to compensate for my lack of experience in Washington, and seriously considered Senators John Glenn, Frank Church, Scoop Jackson, Ed Muskie, and Walter Mondale.

   2011, Jimmy Carter, White House Diary, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 5

   Synonyms: ticketmate

3. nauticalOne of a pair of ships with coordinated, often reciprocal, sailing schedules.
4. hobbiesOne of a pair of horses running the same race for the same stable or owner.