frontrunner

British  

/ ˈfrʌntˌrʌnə /

noun

1. informal the leader or a favoured contestant in a race, election, etc

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Example Sentences

Timothée Chalamet was, until very recently, Hollywood's golden boy and a frontrunner to win an Oscar this weekend - so is the backlash he has faced about more than his views on ballet and opera?

From BBC

"He was obviously a frontrunner for a very long time, and then when the all the different award ceremonies start happening back-to-back, you get a lay of the land."

From BBC

Chalamet was just a few weeks ago considered the frontrunner to win this year’s lead actor Oscar for playing a cocky young ping-pong star in “Marty Supreme,” but has since experienced a rapid downward trajectory in rank thanks to his growing reputation for being a cocky young movie star — with extra demerits for dating Kylie Jenner.

From Los Angeles Times

Khamenei’s 56-year-old son Mojtaba appears to be the frontrunner to replace his father, officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Polling on the race doesn’t point to a clear frontrunner.

From Slate