U.S. Pres. James K. Polk James K. Polk, the Democratic Party candidate in the 1844 U.S. presidential election, was the first “dark horse” nominee in the history of the U.S. presidency; Polk went on to win the election and served as the 11th president of the United States. (more) What Does It Mean To Be a Dark Horse? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/What-Does-It-Mean-To-Be-a-Dark-Horse Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Amy McKenna Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard... Amy McKenna Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 19, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Dark horse is a term used to describe a contender in a competition who is either not well known or not expected to win, but nonetheless performs exceptionally well. It is typically used in the discussion of sports, politics, or other types of contests to describe an unexpected winner. In politics, the term can also refer to someone who unexpectedly wins a nomination to serve as a compromise candidate between factions. The term is said to have originated in horse racing to describe a horse about which very little is known, and therefore one with the potential to upset the ...(100 of 256 words)

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