Crossword Genius

Abandons desires to have Democrat leading (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ditches

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'abandons' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'desires to have democrat leading' is the wordplay.
'desires' becomes 'itches' (to itch for something is to desire it).
'to have democrat' becomes 'd' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'leading' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'itches' after 'd' is 'DITCHES'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ditches that I've seen before include "Long narrow excavations" , "Rejects" , "lands in the sea" , "Gets rid of" , "Long narrow channels" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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