Dark horse
Previously less known person or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals, or a contestant that on paper should be unlikely to succeed but yet still might.
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James K. Polk
The 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849.
The 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849.
He was a dark horse candidate in the 1844 presidential election as the Democratic Party nominee; he entered his party's convention as a potential nominee for vice president but emerged as a compromise to head the ticket when no presidential candidate could secure the necessary two-thirds majority.
1844 United States presidential election
The 15th quadrennial presidential election, held from Friday, November 1 to Wednesday, December 4, 1844.
The 15th quadrennial presidential election, held from Friday, November 1 to Wednesday, December 4, 1844.
The convention instead chose James K. Polk, former Governor of Tennessee and U. S. House Speaker, who emerged as the first dark horse nominee.
1920 United States presidential election
The 34th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 2, 1920.
The 34th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 2, 1920.
With both Wilson and Roosevelt out of the running, the major parties turned to little-known dark horse candidates from the state of Ohio, a swing state with a large number of electoral votes.
1852 United States presidential election
The 17th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 2, 1852.
The 17th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 2, 1852.
On the 49th ballot, dark horse candidate Franklin Pierce won nomination by consensus compromise.
Jimmy Carter
American former politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981.
American former politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981.
Despite being a dark-horse candidate who was generally unknown outside of Georgia, he won the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination.
2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)
Internal Labour Party poll which was triggered by the resignation of Ed Miliband as Leader of the Labour Party on 8 May 2015, following the party's defeat at the 2015 general election.
Internal Labour Party poll which was triggered by the resignation of Ed Miliband as Leader of the Labour Party on 8 May 2015, following the party's defeat at the 2015 general election.
Support for Corbyn, who entered the race as a dark horse candidate, and the release of opinion polls which showed him leading the race, led to high-profile interventions by a number of prominent Labour figures including Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Jack Straw, David Miliband, and Alastair Campbell, among others, many of whom argued that Corbyn's election as leader would leave the party unelectable.
Cross of Gold speech
Delivered by William Jennings Bryan, a former United States Representative from Nebraska, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on July 9, 1896.
Delivered by William Jennings Bryan, a former United States Representative from Nebraska, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on July 9, 1896.
Bryan had been a dark horse candidate with little support in the convention.
1920 Republican National Convention
The 1920 Republican National Convention nominated Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding for president and Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge for vice president.
The 1920 Republican National Convention nominated Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding for president and Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge for vice president.
Dark horse Harding, however, was nominated.
Alberto Fujimori
Peruvian statesman, professor and former engineer who led the nation as the President of Peru from 28 July 1990 until his downfall on 22 November 2000.
Peruvian statesman, professor and former engineer who led the nation as the President of Peru from 28 July 1990 until his downfall on 22 November 2000.
Fujimori won the 1990 presidential election as a dark horse candidate under the banner of Cambio 90 ("cambio" means "change") defeating world-renowned writer Mario Vargas Llosa in a surprising upset.
Franklin Pierce
The 14th president of the United States serving from 1853 to 1857.
The 14th president of the United States serving from 1853 to 1857.
Democratic James K. Polk's dark horse victory in the 1844 presidential election was welcome news to Pierce, who had befriended the former Speaker of the House while both served in Congress.