Perennial candidate

A perennial candidate is somebody who runs several times for political office, without ever winning.

Such a candidate may fall into one of three categories:

1. A candidate who has a similar name to a well-known figure, and hopes that voters will think s/he is that person (for example, in Texas for many years a "Gene Kelly" - no relation to the famous entertainer - ran in statewide primary elections)
2. A candidate who has a small, yet devoted, following, but no real chance to win (examples include Harold Stassen - who ran 9 times for President between 1948 and 1992 - and Lyndon LaRouche - who ran 8 times for President between 1976 and 2004)
3. A candidate who is serious about trying to campaign and win, but is in a race - usually a local one - where the opposition party has a safe seat

After repeated unsuccessful runs a perennial candidate - especially one who runs knowing s/he has little chance of winning in a primary - often becomes the subject of jokes.