Del Duca emerges as Ontario Liberal leadership front-runner in delegate vote

Former cabinet minister Steven Del Duca has emerged as the clear front-runner in the Ontario Liberal leadership race, according to new data released by the party.

Del Duca has secured the support of 1,173 delegates out of the2,724 who will select the party's replacement for former premierKathleen Wynne at a convention on March 7.

The numbers suggest Del Duca, who served in the economicdevelopment and transportation minister roles under Wynne, is closeto achieving more than the 50 per cent vote he needs to secure afirst ballot victory.

In a brief statement on social media Wednesday, he said he isclose to nailing down support from uncommitted "ex-officio" voterswho consist largely of party heavyweights and appear to hold thebalance of power.

"I'm humbled to learn today that [1,173] grassroots Ontarianshave been elected to attend the leadership convention as part of myteam," he said. "I'm also thrilled that we are closing in onsupport from 200 ex-officio delegates."

Outpacing nearest rival Michael Coteau

With some of their support, Del Duca could cruise to a victory atthe convention and avoid the horse-trading that could see other challengers pool their supporters to stop him.

His total thus far outpaces his nearest rival, former social services minister Michael Coteau, who was selected by 371 delegatesduring riding association votes held last weekend.

The Liberals also said Wednesday that former party candidate KateGraham came third in the delegate selection process with 273, while former education minister Mitzie Hunter finished fourth with 130 delegates.

Another former candidate, Alvin Tedjo, received the support of 72 delegates, while Ottawa-based lawyer Brenda Hollingsworth won support from 25.

Party suffered its worst ever defeatin2018

The new Liberal leader will face the daunting tasks of rebuildingparty support and replenishing its depleted coffers in the months ahead.

The Ontario Liberal party suffered the worst defeat in its history during the June 2018 election, being toppled from power andultimately not winning enough seats to maintain official party status.

The party also finds itself deep in the red after taking on $10 million in debt to help fund their election campaign. Last year, theLiberals reported $9.3 million of that amount had yet to be paid off.

Del Duca was the first declared candidate for the leadership,launching his campaign last spring before the race officially began.

He has stressed that the party needs an experienced leader whocan help select candidates, raise money and develop a comprehensive platform before the next election in 2022.