Lights! Camera! Vote! When Spencer Pratt, former reality star and newly minted political hopeful, announced his candidacy for mayor of Los Angeles this week, he joined a long, star-studded history of celebrities running for office. (Arnold Schwarzenegger, aka “The Governator,” anyone?) Pratt first entered the public eye in 2007 as a cast member in The Hills, a reality series following the personal and professional lives of young adults living in LA. He met his wife, Heidi Montag, on the series, and the pair later went on to appear together on other shows like I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! and the British version of Celebrity Big Brother.
Just like Pratt and so many civic-minded celebs before him, the fictional candidates in these Netflix comedies have never held political office. But the aspiring legislators in these satirical movies and series are ready to give it their all. Read on for more.
Ben Platt leads this two-season dramedy — created by Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, and Brad Falchuk — about a high school student, Payton Hobart (Platt), who runs for student body president against a popular jock, River Barkley (David Corenswet). Payton’s high expectations for himself and his political future often land him in hot water despite interference from his friends and doting mother, Georgina (Gwyneth Paltrow). Zoey Deutch (Set It Up), Lucy Boynton (The Greatest Hits), Jessica Lange (American Horror Story), Judith Light (Ugly Betty), and Bette Midler (Hocus Pocus) also star.
Director Alexander Payne (The Holdovers) co-wrote this satirical black comedy about a student body election that goes sideways. When consummate overachiever Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) runs unopposed for her high school’s presidency, social studies teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) goes out of his way to disrupt her campaign by encouraging football star Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) to join the race. Hijinks ensue as Jim’s attempts at sabotage become increasingly desperate and Tracy catches on to his game.
When fun-loving billionaire business mogul Chief Olalekan Ajadi (Akin Lewis) fails his third attempt at a presidential run in Nigeria, he’s ready to give up. But then a powerful political party taps him for a fourth run, and he jumps at the chance. He becomes a true contender with the help of a bombastic social media strategy. Funke Akindele (Far From Home), Kemi Lala Akindoju (Dazzling Mirage), and Shaffy Bello (Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman) also star in this political satire film directed by Akindele.
