candidate

candidate
    n 1: a politician who is running for public office [syn:
         {campaigner}, {candidate}, {nominee}]
    2: someone who is considered for something (for an office or
       prize or honor etc.) [syn: {candidate}, {prospect}]
    

Candidate \Can"di*date\, n. [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.]
   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.
   [1913 Webster]
    

CANDIDATE. One who offers himself or is offered by others for an office. 
    

54 Moby Thesaurus words for "candidate":
      addict, agent, also-ran, applicant, appointee, aspirant, aspirer,
      assignee, baby kisser, bidder, campaigner, claimant, collector,
      coveter, dark horse, defeated candidate, deputy, desirer, devotee,
      dud, entrant, fancier, favorite son, freak, hankerer, has-been,
      hopeful, lame duck, licensee, lover, nominee, office seeker,
      petitioner, political hopeful, possibility, postulant,
      presidential timber, prospect, runner, running mate, seeker,
      selectee, solicitant, solicitor, stalking-horse, stumper, suitor,
      suppliant, supplicant, votary, wanter, whistle-stopper, wisher,
      yearner