Trump on 'Time' shortlist for '2015 Person of the Year'

It likely comes as little surprise, but Donald Trump is one of eight finalists to be Time magazine's "2015 Person of the Year."

In its description listing Trump among the finalists, Time writes that his "populist rhetoric has made him frontrunner in the race for the Republican presidential candidacy and stirred debate about the party’s future."

Trump has led Republican polls for months and dominated the political conversation since launching his bid this summer.

One other 2016 hopeful also figured to be among those considered. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who's seeking the Democratic nomination, won the online poll of Time readers, but was not among the finalists selected by the magazine's editors.

The other finalists are Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, Black Lives Matter activists, Caitlyn Jenner, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Time's Person of the Year will be announced Wednesday morning on the Today show.