I have 2 objects (NRMA__c)  (ts2__Application__c).  I'm trying to update a look up field (Candidate__c) on the NRMA object with the Candidate field (ts2__Candidate_Contact__c) from the Application object. 

I was able to accomplish other field updates like this through workflows, but for some reason, I was unable to update the Contract lookup field on the NRMA.  I need this field to populate the Contact that is listed on the Application object. 

Here is another run down of the fields and objects:

NRMA__c - object that includes a lookup to contacts (Candidate__c) - trying to update this field automatically

ts2__Application - object that includes a looup field to Contacts (ts2__Candidate_Contact__c). 

When creating a new record on NRMA from Application, I want this to happen before update, before insert:

NRMA.Candiate c = Application.ts2__Candidate_Contact__c

Here is the trigger, but it's not working:

trigger CandidateTrigger on NRMA__C (before insert, before update) {

  List<String> canList = new List<String>();
  for (NRMA__c n:Trigger.new){
    canList.add(n.Application__c);
  }
 
  List<ts2__Application__c> contactList = [SELECT Id, Name, ts2__Candidate_Contact__r.Id FROM ts2__Application__c WHERE Id in :canList];
 
  Map<String, Id> nameToId = new Map<String, Id>();
  for(ts2__Application__c c : contactList) {
    nameToId.put(c.Name, c.Id);
  }
 
  for (NRMA__c n:Trigger.new){
  n.Candidate__c = nameToId.get(n.Application__r.ts2__Candidate_Contact__r.Id);
  }
 
  }

Any ideas?  Thanks!