CANDIDATE
campaigner, candidate, nominee
(noun) a politician who is running for public office
candidate, prospect
(noun) someone who is considered for something (for an office or prize or honor etc.)
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
candidate (plural candidates)
A person who is running in an election.
A person who is applying for a job.
A participant in an examination.
Something or somebody that may be suitable.
(genetics) A gene which may play a role in a given disease.
Verb
candidate (third-person singular simple present candidates, present participle candidating, simple past and past participle candidated)
(uncommon) To stand as a candidate for an office, especially a religious one.
(nonstandard, chiefly, in jargon and NNES) To make or name (something) a candidate (for use, for study as a next project, for investigation as a possible cause of something, etc).
Source: Wiktionary
Can"di*date, n. Etym: [L. Candidatus, n. (because candidates for
office in Rome were clothed in a white toga.) fr. candidatus clothed
in white, fr. candiduslittering, white: cf. F. candidat.]
Definition: One who offers himself, or is put forward by others, as a
suitable person or an aspirant or contestant for an office,
privilege, or honor; as, a candidate for the office of governor; a
candidate for holy orders; a candidate for scholastic honors.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition