Candidate
early 17th century: from Latin candidatus ‘white-robed’, also denoting a candidate for office (who traditionally wore a white toga), from candidus ‘white’.
wiktionary
From Latin candidātus(“a person who is standing for public office”), from candidus(“dazzling white, shining, clear”) + -ātus(an adjectival suffix), in reference to Roman candidates wearing bleached white togas as a symbol of purity at a public forum.
etymonline
candidate (n.)
"person who seeks or is put forward for an office by election or appointment," c. 1600, from Latin candidatus "one aspiring to office," originally "white-robed," past participle of candidare "to make white or bright," from candidus past participle of candere "to shine," from PIE root *kand- "to shine." White was the usual color of the Roman toga, but office-seekers in ancient Rome wore a gleaming white toga (togacandida), probably whitened with fine powdered chalk, presumably to indicate the purity of their intentions in seeking a role in civic affairs.
