Section 16002 Of Chapter 1. General Provisions From California Elections Code >> Division 16. >> Chapter 1.

. When used in this division, "contestant" means any person initiating an election contest. "Defendant" means that person whose election or nomination is contested or those persons receiving an equal and highest number of votes, other than the contestant, where, in other than primary elections, the body canvassing the returns declares that no one person has received the highest number of votes for the contested office.