What is the term for an elected official who is currently in office?

An incumbent refers to an elected official who is currently holding a position in office. This term is often used in the context of elections, particularly when discussing those running for re-election. Incumbents typically have certain advantages, including established name recognition, a record of accomplishments, and often greater access to campaign resources.

In contrast, other terms like "independent" describe candidates who are not affiliated with any political party, "candidacy" refers to the state of running for office rather than the person already in office, and "challenger" describes an individual running against an incumbent or another candidate for a position. Therefore, the definition of incumbent distinctly captures the status of an elected official currently serving their term.