The phrase "presumptive nominee" refers to a person who is likely to be chosen as the final candidate by a political party in an election before it is officially confirmed. Full definition
Congressman Al Green (D - TX) listens to Democratic Presumptive Nominee for President former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speak at the NAACP Annual Convention at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio on Monday, July 18, 2016. (washingtonpost.com)
Guess which Republican presumptive nominee came this close to having it? (entrepreneur.com)
The GOP Party nomination is still a contested election between presumptive nominee Mitt Romney and Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich. (newrochelletalk.com)