Someone who seeks elective office becomes a candidate. The label applies once a person has filed the required papers, secured a party nomination, or otherwise entered the formal contest for a public position.

Candidates present themselves to voters through debates, advertisements, interviews, and direct contact. They must meet legal qualifications of age, citizenship, and residency, and they usually need to demonstrate enough support to appear on the ballot. Primary elections or party conventions often narrow the field before the general election.

Running for office demands time, money, and a tolerance for public scrutiny. Many capable people decline to become candidates for those reasons. Those who do run accept that their records, statements, and personal lives will be examined. The quality of the candidate pool shapes the quality of eventual officeholders.

A strong candidate can elevate an entire ticket; a weak one can drag it down.