§ Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-16"Candidate"

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d), "candidate" means an
individual who:
(1) has taken the action necessary to qualify under Indiana law for listing on the ballot
at an election or to become a write-in candidate;
(2) has publicly announced or declared candidacy for an elected office; or
(3) otherwise seeks nomination for or election to an elected office, regardless of
whether the individual wins election to the office.
(b) As used in IC 3-9, an individual becomes a "candidate" when the individual, the
candidate's committee, or a person acting with the consent of the individual:
(1) receives more than one hundred dollars ($100) in contributions;
(2) makes more than one hundred dollars ($100) in expenditures;
(3) is required to file a written instrument designating a principal committee under
IC 3-9-1-5.5 or IC 3-9-5-1;
(4) is subject to campaign contribution limits under IC 3-9-2;
(5) is subject to campaign expense restrictions under IC 3-9-3; or
(6) is subject to requirements for campaign communications including fabricated media
under IC 3-9-8.
(c) As used in IC 3-13-1 and IC 3-13-2, "candidate" includes an individual filling a
general or municipal election ballot vacancy under IC 3-13-1 or IC 3-13-2 when a county or
town election board, the Indiana election commission, or a court has determined that the
required action of:
(1) the individual; or
(2) another person under IC 3-13-1 or IC 3-13-2;
is void or invalid.
(d) As used in IC 3-14-3-18, "candidate" includes an individual described in
IC 3-14-3-18(a).