Sentence:  The territory was bursting with political spoils and riches to be captured, and “old settlers” vied with newcomers for a place at the head of the line, encouraging <WSD>bare-knuckle</WSD> politics with a distinctively local cast. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Characterized by ruthlessly attacking or overpowering an opponent, especially when using underhanded techniques.