verb

engage in competition to attain (a position of power).

she declared her intention to contest the presidency

compete for,contend for,vie for,challenge for,fight for,fight over,battle for,struggle for,tussle for,try to win,try for,go for,throw one’s hat in the ring,compete in,contend in,fight in,battle in,enter,take part in,be a competitor in,participate in,put one’s name down for,go in for