"Favored candidates" refers to individuals who are preferred or supported by a particular group or organization. These candidates are more likely to receive attention, resources, and opportunities than others. Full definition
Example: The head of a sales team who likes to think he's the funniest guy in the room favors the candidate who will not steal the spotlight. (blog.simplyhired.com)
And when it comes to the hiring process, most employers favor candidates with some form of certification. (veterinarianedu.org)
Due to the math of population distribution, at - large elections favor candidates in population centers. (politics.stackexchange.com)