CREATE TABLE table_203_615 (id NUMBER, "district" CLOB, "incumbent" CLOB, "party" CLOB, "first\ elected" NUMBER, "result" CLOB, "candidates" CLOB)

how many candidates were part of the republican party ?
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_203_615 WHERE "party" = 'republican'
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM "table_203_615" WHERE "party" = 'republican'