write-in candidate
Voter's handwritten choice
A write-in candidate is someone who runs for office without appearing on the printed ballot.
Voters must manually write the candidate's name in a designated space.
Write-in campaigns are usually longshots, though some succeed: Lisa Murkowski won her Senate seat as a write-in candidate in 2010.
The term also applies to anyone whose name is written on a ballot, even as a protest or joke.
Voting document
- voteFormal choice expression
- electionOrganized public voting
- pollingSystematic opinion gathering
- primaryChief in importance
caucus · democracy · electorate · voter · campaign · nomination · petition · independent
Unlikely but possible winner
- long shotUnlikely to succeed
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- insurgentOne who revolts
upstart · unknown · unendorsed · nonmainstream · overlooked · improbable · unlikely · contender
Direct effort for reform
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
- door-to-doorDirectly between residences
petition · community · local · coalition · advocacy · outreach · engagement · town hall
Disturb, topple, or shock
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- stunningExtremely impressive or beautiful
jaw-dropping · eye-opener · revelation · astonishment · disbelief · against the odds · wildcard · sleeper
ballot
Voting document
primary · caucus · democracy · electorate · voter · campaign · nomination · petition · independent · unaffiliated
dark horse
Unlikely but possible winner
- long shotUnlikely to succeed
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
insurgent · upstart · unknown · unendorsed · nonmainstream · overlooked · improbable · unlikely · contender · rebel
activism
Direct effort for reform
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
door-to-door · petition · community · local · coalition · advocacy · outreach · engagement · town hall · rallies
upset
Disturb, topple, or shock
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
stunning · jaw-dropping · eye-opener · revelation · astonishment · disbelief · against the odds · wildcard · sleeper · underestimated
- election participantsvoter, elector, registered voter, eligible voter, poll worker
- electionsballot, ballots, voter registration, polls, election day
- candidatesnominee, nominees, contender, contenders, hopeful
- primariesprimary election, primary elections, primaries, open primaries, primary ballot