Candidate

Definition

A candidate is a person who is running for an elected office, like president, mayor, or a school board member.

Examples

• The candidate gave a speech about their plans to build a new library in the town.
• Voters will choose the best candidate for the job during the election.

Why it Matters for Civic Life

Candidates are important because they offer different ideas and visions for how to lead. By learning about different candidates, citizens can decide who they think will do the best job and then vote for them.

Fun Fact!

The word "candidate" comes from a Latin word meaning "white," because in ancient Rome, people running for office wore special white robes called "togas candida."