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

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'