After losing the election, the party is going to hang him out to dry.
Etymology: based on the practice of hanging an animal that has been killed in a tree so its meat can dry
hang (one) out to dry
To desert one in a troubling situation. He says he's my friend, but then he totally hung me out to dry in that meeting! Not one word of support as the boss tore into me!
hang someone out to dry
Fig. to defeat or punish someone. The boss was really angry at Billie. He yelled at him and hung him out to dry.
hang out to dry
Abandon someone to danger, as in The squadron withdrew and just let us hang out to dry. This expression alludes to hanging wet laundry on a clothesline. [Slang; 1960s]