candidates who have won or are projected to win an election
Media and political term referring collectively to candidates who have either been declared elected or are projected to be elected based on early results. Often used in news headlines and election coverage.
In the vote-counting updates, candidates who had won or were projected to win were announced one after another.
Upon receiving the news of being projected to win, a loud cheer went up from the campaign office.
Compound of 当選 (election win) and 当確 (abbreviation of 当選確実, 'projected to be elected'). It is from 当選及び当選確実.