Supporters of British Conservative Party MP Rishi Sunak say the former chancellor has reached the 100 backers needed to run in Monday's ballot to be the next party leader and prime minister.
It would make Mr Sunak the first MP to reach the threshold in the race to replace ousted PM Liz Truss.
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood MP claimed to be Mr Sunak's 100th supporter, tweeting "the reset begins".
Five cabinet members are supporting former PM Boris Johnson, according to the BBC.
Campaign sources for Mr Sunak told the BBC he had reached the threshold, making him the frontrunner against Mr Johnson, who had less than half that number.
House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt had 21 backers, according to a BBC tally.
Mr Johnson is said to be on his way back to the UK from his Caribbean holiday, with the weight of several dozen MPs behind him, but Ms Mordaunt is still the only one to have declared her intention to run.
Ms Truss resigned this week after 45 chaotic days in the top job — the shortest term ever for a British prime minister.
The BBC has tallied Mr Sunak's confirmed supporters at 93, based on public declarations and those that have confirmed it to them directly.
Mr Johnson has 44, and Ms Mordaunt 21.
The process to determine the next Conservative leader has been shortened since Ms Truss emerged the victor in summer's ballot, with nominations closing on Monday, and a new leader to be declared on Friday.
Each nominee needs at least 100 backers from the 357-strong Conservative House of Commons cohort (a higher threshold than previously), capping the number of contestants to three.
The final two candidates will be put to the Conservative Party's 172,000 members in an online vote.
In the last ballot, grassroots members snubbed Mr Sunak, who was more popular with fellow MPs.
The new leader will be Britain's fifth prime minister in six years and will take the helm as pressure mounts to call an immediate general election — which polls suggest would wipe out the Conservative Party.
ABC/Reuters
