Cover Republican states during half term (8)
I believe the answer is:
traverse
'cover' is the definition.
('traverse' can be a synonym of 'cover')
'republican states during half term' is the wordplay.
'republican' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'states' becomes 'avers' (I've seen this before).
'during' indicates putting letters inside.
'half' means to take half the letters.
'r'+'avers'='ravers'
'term' cut in half is 'te'.
'ravers' inserted into 'te' is 'TRAVERSE'.
(Other definitions for traverse that I've seen before include "get across" , "Extend or bridge across" , "Ski diagonally across (a slope)" , "Cross sideways" , "Move across" .)