A person who offers himself, or is presented by others, to be elected to an office. Derived from the Latin Candidas, (white,) because in Rome it was the custom for those who sought office to clothe themselves in white garments. One who seeks or aspires to some office or privilege, or who offers himself for the same. A man is a candidate for an office when he is seeking such office. It is not necessary that he should have been nominated for the office. Leonard v. Com., 112 Pa. 024, 4 Atl. 224. See State v. Hirsch, 125 Ind. 207, 24 N. E. 1002, 9 L. R. A. 170.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
