Presumptive Nominee
A candidate who has effectively secured enough delegates to win the nomination but has not yet been formally confirmed at the party convention.
The term 'presumptive nominee' is used by media and analysts once a candidate has clinched enough pledged delegates to guarantee a first-ballot win at the convention, but before that convention has officially voted to nominate them.
Because the convention is a formal procedural step that occurs months after the primary season ends, candidates often campaign as the de facto nominee - raising general election funds, selecting a running mate, and pivoting to the fall campaign.
A presumptive nominee can theoretically still be denied the nomination if extraordinary circumstances change before the convention, but this is extremely rare in the modern era.
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The candidate formally selected by a political party to run for president in the general election.
A party representative selected during primaries or caucuses who votes for a presidential nominee at the national convention.
The national gathering of a political party's delegates that formally nominates the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
A state-run election in which voters choose their party's nominee for president by selecting among competing candidates.