In American politics, the vice-presidential nominee of a political party; the "running mate", then, of a presidential candidate. Examples: FDR, the 1920 Democratic Party nominee (he lost); Richard Nixon, from the Republican Party, in 1952/1956 (a winner, both times); Dan Quayle (a loser). Couldn't resist. Sorry. Geraldine Ferraro has been the only woman nominee of a major party (1984). In 1968, Huey P. Newton was Dr. Benjamin Spock's running mate. That wasn't major.