Argumentative type was back, unhappy about interrupting election (6,8)

'argumentative type' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'back unhappy about interrupting election' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'unhappy' could be 'sad' (associated in meaning) and 'sad' is located in the answer.
'about' could be 'ca' (circa) and 'ca' is present in the answer.
'election' could be 'vote' (vote can mean an election or poll) and 'vote' is located in the remaining letters.
The remaining letters 'devil' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'was' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?