Group of candidates (5)
I believe the answer is:
slate
'group of candidates' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for slate that I've seen before include "A roof-tile; criticise heavily" , "Blast" , "Small blackboard - for deferred payments" , "Bluish-grey colour" , "Scold; hard rock" .)