Boris Johnson has secured the highest number of votes in the first ballot to select the Conservative party leader and next prime minister.
Three contenders – Mark Harper, Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey – have been knocked out, in the secret ballot held in the House of Commons.
Mr Johnson received 114 votes, Jeremy Hunt was second with 43, and Michael Gove third with 37 votes.
Seven candidates progress to the next round of voting next week.
The two most popular MPs will be put to Tory party members in a final vote later this month.
The winner of the contest to succeed Theresa May is expected to be announced in the week of 22 July.
Mr Johnson said he was “delighted to win the first ballot, but we have a long way to go”.
Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt said he was “delighted” to have come second, saying: “This serious moment calls for a serious leader.”
And a spokesperson for Michael Gove’s campaign said: “Everyone had written us off. People said we were going backwards. But we gained support and are in touching distance of second. It’s all to play for.”
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I look forward to continuing to share my positive vision and my plan for uniting the country.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock thanked his supporters, saying it was “terrific to have more votes from colleagues than I could have hoped for”.
Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, said he was “proud and honoured” and he had a “good base to build on”.
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International Development Secretary Rory Stewart told the BBC’s Politics Live he was “completely over the moon” to have got through the first vote.
He said he only had six declared votes ahead of the poll, but “more than three times that” voted for him in the secret ballot.
Justice Secretary David Gauke said Mr Stewart was now the main challenger to Mr Johnson, saying: “He’s really in with a chance and the momentum is with Rory.”
But Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who is supporting Mr Hunt’s campaign, said the foreign secretary is “attractive to many sides of the party because he’s a serious individual”.
And Schools Minister Nick Gibb told BBC Radio 4’s World at One that Mr Gove was now “best placed as a Brexiteer to challenge the front runner” Mr Johnson in the final.
Mr Harper said he continued “to believe we need a credible plan that delivers Brexit” in order to “restore trust”.
Mrs Leadsom’s campaign team said they were “disappointed” but “wish all the other candidates well”.
And Ms McVey said she was “extremely grateful” to those who had voted for her in the ballot.
