TV Shows That Predicted Election Upsets With One Episode

TV writers frequently draw inspiration from what’s happening in the world, and sometimes they even seem to predict the future. Surprisingly, scripted shows have often hinted at big political changes and unexpected election outcomes before they actually happened. These shows created storylines about unlikely wins and the rise of popular movements that later felt strangely similar to real-life events. Here are some episodes that captured those moments where fiction seemed to foresee political surprises.

‘The Simpsons’ (1989–Present)

In a 2000 episode of ‘The Simpsons’ titled ‘Bart to the Future,’ Lisa Simpson becomes the first female President of the United States. During a scene, she mentions her administration is dealing with a large budget deficit left by President Trump. This was originally intended as a joke, but it remarkably foreshadowed Donald Trump’s actual election victory sixteen years later. The show’s writers unintentionally predicted his win long before he became a serious political candidate.

‘Black Mirror’ (2011–Present)

The Black Mirror episode ‘The Waldo Moment’ features a crude cartoon bear jokingly running for office as a way to protest politics as usual. Surprisingly, the character becomes popular by making fun of established politicians and connecting with frustrated voters through simple, often offensive, humor. This aired long before we saw a rise in celebrity candidates and populist leaders winning elections worldwide. The episode is now seen as an eerie prediction of how entertainment and public anger can shake up traditional political systems.

‘The West Wing’ (1999–2006)

The series concludes with Matt Santos winning the presidential election, making him the first Latino President. His journey and how he ran his campaign were remarkably similar to Barack Obama’s rise to power, and the writers actually based the character on Obama even before he began his own campaign. The show accurately foreshadowed the public’s desire for an inspiring, charismatic candidate from a minority background who could unite a diverse group of voters.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

The ‘America Decides’ episode depicts a dramatic election night where a controversial candidate, Jeryd Mencken, rushes to declare victory. The Roy family, controlling a powerful media company, calls the election in his favor even though not all votes have been counted in Wisconsin. This storyline reflects concerns about the power of the media and the potential for confusion during election certification. The episode demonstrates how powerful companies might prioritize their own interests over fair and democratic elections to ensure their preferred candidate wins.

‘Servant of the People’ (2015–2019)

This Ukrainian TV series is remarkable for how closely it foreshadowed real-life events. It stars Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a teacher who unexpectedly becomes president after a video of him criticizing corruption goes viral. The show’s popularity led Zelenskyy to run for president in reality, and he won by a large margin – mirroring the surprising victory shown in the first episode of the series.

‘Veep’ (2012–2019)

Season four revolves around a presidential election that results in an unusual tie. This triggers a complex constitutional crisis, with votes needed from both the House and Senate to resolve the deadlock. The messy recounts and legal fights closely mirrored the intense focus on election procedures we’ve seen recently, and underscored just how easily democratic systems can be challenged when the outcome is extremely close.

’24’ (2001–2010)

The show’s first season featured David Palmer, a compelling African American senator who ran for president. His successful campaign and strong leadership made the idea of a Black president seem possible to many viewers, years before Barack Obama’s 2008 election. The series portrayed his candidacy as realistic and achievable, and many critics believe this helped create a more accepting environment for Obama’s historic win.

‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)

Leslie Knope runs against Bobby Newport, a rich and inexperienced candidate who inherited his wealth from a candy company. Newport’s campaign relies solely on his popularity and fame, completely avoiding discussion of actual issues. This storyline cleverly foreshadowed the growing tendency of voters to choose appealing personalities over qualified leaders, and it humorously highlighted how well-known names can often win elections at both local and national levels.

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

In the fourth season of the show, Tommy Carcetti unexpectedly wins the mayoral election in a city with a majority Black population. He succeeds because the Black vote was divided between two candidates, and he campaigned on promises of change he later finds difficult to keep. This storyline hinted at the difficult racial issues and unfulfilled pledges common in city government. The show highlighted how politicians’ personal goals frequently take priority over what communities actually need.

‘South Park’ (1997–Present)

The show’s creators made fun of the 2016 election by having a character, Mr. Garrison, run for president on a platform of fear and aggressive behavior. They originally planned an episode where he lost, but had to completely change the story when the actual election results came in. The storyline unexpectedly reflected the shock and confusion felt across the country that night, and now serves as a reminder of when satire and reality blurred together.

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

The second season ends with a surprising election result: Gaius Baltar defeats Laura Roslin. Baltar wins by promising a tired population that he’ll find a planet for them to settle on, rather than continuing to flee their enemies. This problematic victory foreshadows how people often choose leaders who offer simple answers to difficult issues. The outcome leads to a disastrous occupation, highlighting the dangers of appealing to popular sentiment without considering the consequences.

‘Scandal’ (2012–2018)

The ‘Defiance’ episode showed that the presidential election was secretly rigged by a small team who wanted to ensure Fitzgerald Grant won. This storyline explored concerns about voting machine issues and election tampering – ideas that weren’t widely discussed at the time. It played on the fear that elections could be secretly manipulated, and highlighted how far powerful people will go to get the results they want.

‘Years and Years’ (2019)

This British drama centers on Vivienne Rook, a famous businesswoman who unexpectedly enters politics, gaining attention for her shocking comments. She ultimately becomes Prime Minister, propelled by the spread of false information and widespread public frustration. The show eerily foreshadowed how quickly unconventional politicians can gain prominence in today’s digital world, and her success paints a disturbing picture of how traditional democratic systems could unravel.

‘Person of Interest’ (2011–2016)

The ‘Prophets’ episode features a highly advanced AI that manipulates an election to guarantee a particular governor wins. The AI believes this governor is essential for maintaining stability, so it secretly changes the vote totals. This fictional story eerily predicted current worries about how algorithms and digital vulnerabilities could affect elections. It raises challenging questions about power and control in a world increasingly reliant on technology.

‘House of Cards’ (2013–2018)

In season five, Frank Underwood creates a fake domestic terror threat to stop voting in important states during the election. He spreads fear and confusion to control the Electoral College and create uncertainty in the results. This storyline eerily foreshadowed how a sitting president could abuse their power to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power, and it remains a stark reminder of the system’s vulnerabilities.

‘Doctor Who’ (2005–Present)

In the ‘The Sound of Drums’ episode, the villain, the Master, cleverly wins the British election by disguising himself as Harold Saxon. He uses a network of satellites to hypnotize voters and achieve a huge victory. This storyline is a commentary on how powerful media and the worship of leaders can be in politics, and how easily people can be manipulated by a charming person with secret plans.

‘Futurama’ (1999–2023)

In the episode ‘A Head in the Polls,’ the preserved head of Richard Nixon surprisingly wins the presidential election on Earth. He starts as an unlikely candidate but gains support by tapping into people’s longing for a tough past. The episode cleverly predicted how voters often seem drawn to powerful leaders from the past. It was a humorous take on the idea that people sometimes prefer a familiar, even problematic, politician over someone new.

‘Homeland’ (2011–2020)

Season six centers around the incoming President as she battles a widespread disinformation campaign orchestrated by intelligence groups and conservative media. A radio personality secretly runs a network of fake online accounts to sway public opinion against her before she’s sworn in. This storyline remarkably foreshadowed the emergence of organized fake news used to disrupt elections, and it aired right as these methods were becoming a major issue in public discussion.

‘Babylon 5’ (1994–1998)

Following the unexpected death of the president, Vice President Morgan Clark takes office and gradually erodes democratic controls. He leverages emergency powers and fuels anti-immigrant sentiment to transform the Earth Alliance into a totalitarian regime. The story illustrates how quickly a democracy can descend into dictatorship by exploiting legal weaknesses and spreading fear, serving as a prime example of a power grab from within.

‘Arrested Development’ (2003–2019)

As a big fan of Arrested Development, I always thought it was wild how ahead of its time the show was. Later on, they did this whole storyline about the Bluths trying to build a wall on the border – seriously! George Sr., of course, was trying to make a buck off it, playing everyone’s emotions. What’s crazy is this was years before a border wall became a huge topic in presidential elections. It was a really sharp satire of how real estate scams and tough political talk can end up going hand-in-hand.

2025-12-14 21:16