front runner

If you’re an actor attached to either the medical drama “The Pitt” or the horror-comedy “Widow’s Bay,” consider yourself the front runner.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Paramount had initially been viewed as a front runner in the deal given the close ties its CEO, David Ellison, and his father, Oracle Corp.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 8, 2025

With Kamala Harris out of the California governor’s race, other candidates are jockeying to be seen as the new front runner.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2025

Ex-home secretary Suella Braverman, who was initially seen by many as a front runner in the race, did not enter the race after many of her key allies joined Mr Jenrick's campaign.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2024

Twice champion of the USSR, he’d won the 1958 Portorož Interzonal, becoming a front runner to play the incumbent titleholder, Mikhail Botvinnik, for the World Championship in 1960.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Wyle was considered the front-runner in the category by awards prognosticators, including The Times’ Glenn Whipp.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan was the front-runner after last month's first informal vote, in which the council's 15 members, including the five with veto power, pass judgment in secret on the candidates.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Schlittler has been a revelation this season, posting an American League-best 2.19 ERA to emerge as the Cy Young front-runner.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

The front-runner was Francesca Hong, a State Assemblywoman and DSA member who, according to the scant few surveys conducted, held a dominant lead over the moderate candidates in the field.

From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026

Then, somewhat oddly, both the Democratic front-runner in the primary and the ensuing Republican nominee became embroiled in scandals involving their ex-wives.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama