TV Shows That Predicted Election Upsets With One Episode

Television writers often look to current events for inspiration but sometimes they manage to get ahead of the curve. Scripted series have a knack for foreshadowing major political shifts and surprising election results long before voters head to the polls. These shows crafted narratives about underdog victories and populist uprisings that felt eerily familiar when real news broke years later. The following episodes capture moments where fiction accidentally predicted the future of political upsets.

‘The Simpsons’ (1989–Present)

The episode titled ‘Bart to the Future’ shows Lisa Simpson as the first female President of the United States. She remarks during a cabinet meeting that her administration inherited a significant budget crunch from President Trump. This line served as a humorous aside in 2000 but became a stunning prediction sixteen years later. The writers accidentally forecasted the upset victory of Donald Trump long before he entered the political arena.

‘Black Mirror’ (2011–Present)

The episode ‘The Waldo Moment’ depicts a vulgar cartoon bear running for office as a populist anti-establishment stunt. The character gains unexpected traction by mocking career politicians and engaging disaffected voters with crude humor. This storyline aired years before global politics saw a wave of celebrity outsiders and populist figures winning major elections. The episode serves as a chilling foreshadowing of how entertainment and anger can disrupt traditional democracy.

‘The West Wing’ (1999–2006)

The series finale depicts the victory of Matt Santos who becomes the first Latino President of the United States. His character arc and campaign style bore a striking resemblance to the rise of Barack Obama just a few years later. Writers modeled the character on Obama before he even announced his candidacy for the presidency. The show predicted the appetite for a charismatic minority candidate who could inspire a new coalition of voters.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

The episode ‘America Decides’ showcases a tense election night where a right-wing populist candidate claims victory prematurely. The Roy family uses their media empire to call the election for Jeryd Mencken despite missing ballots in Wisconsin. This narrative parallels fears regarding media influence and the chaotic certification of election results. The show highlights how corporate interests can override democratic processes to install a preferred leader.

‘Servant of the People’ (2015–2019)

This Ukrainian series provides the most literal prediction in television history. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stars as a high school teacher who accidentally becomes president after a rant about corruption goes viral. The popularity of the show and the character propelled Zelenskyy to launch an actual presidential campaign. He won the real election in a landslide that mirrored the fictional upset depicted in the pilot episode.

‘Veep’ (2012–2019)

The fourth season depicts a presidential election that ends in an unprecedented tie between the two candidates. This leads to a convoluted constitutional crisis involving a vote in the House of Representatives and later the Senate. The chaotic recount processes and legal battles foreshadowed the intense scrutiny of electoral mechanisms seen in recent years. It highlighted how fragile the systems of democracy can be when tested by razor-thin margins.

’24’ (2001–2010)

The first season introduced David Palmer as a charismatic African American senator running for president. His eventual victory and capable leadership normalized the idea of a Black president for millions of viewers years before the 2008 election. The show presented his candidacy as a viable reality rather than a distant dream. Many cultural critics believe this portrayal helped pave the way for the historic election of Barack Obama.

‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)

Leslie Knope faces off against Bobby Newport who is an unqualified but wealthy heir of a candy fortune. Newport runs a campaign based entirely on his likability and celebrity status while ignoring policy completely. The storyline predicted the increasing trend of voters favoring charismatic personalities over experienced public servants. It served as a comedic but accurate look at how name recognition can dominate local and national races.

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

The mayoral race in season four sees Tommy Carcetti win an upset victory in a predominantly Black city. He capitalizes on the split vote between two Black candidates and promises reform that he ultimately struggles to deliver. This narrative foreshadowed the complex racial dynamics and broken promises often seen in urban politics. The show demonstrated how political ambition often supersedes the needs of the community.

‘South Park’ (1997–Present)

The creators satirized the 2016 election by having Mr. Garrison run for president with a platform focused on xenophobia and brash behavior. They fully expected to write an episode about his defeat but were forced to rewrite the plot when the real election results came in. The storyline inadvertently captured the surprise and confusion that swept the nation that night. It remains a time capsule of the moment political satire merged completely with reality.

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

The season two finale features the election of Gaius Baltar over the incumbent Laura Roslin. Baltar wins by appealing to the war-weary populace with a populist promise of settling on a planet rather than running from enemies. His disastrous victory predicts how desperate electorates often turn to leaders offering easy solutions to complex problems. The upset leads to a catastrophic occupation that serves as a grim warning about populist rhetoric.

‘Scandal’ (2012–2018)

The episode ‘Defiance’ reveals that a presidential election was rigged by a small group of operatives to ensure an upset victory for Fitzgerald Grant. This plotline explored the dark underbelly of voting machines and tampering rumors long before they became mainstream talking points. It tapped into the deep-seated paranoia that election results might be manipulated by unseen forces. The show dramatized the lengths to which power brokers will go to control the outcome.

‘Years and Years’ (2019)

This British drama introduces Vivienne Rook as a celebrity business woman who turns to politics with controversial statements. She wins the position of Prime Minister after a steady rise fueled by misinformation and populist anger. The show predicted the speed at which fringe political figures could capture the mainstream in the digital age. Her victory serves as a terrifying roadmap for the collapse of traditional liberal democracy.

‘Person of Interest’ (2011–2016)

The episode ‘Prophets’ depicts a super-intelligent AI rigging an election to ensure a specific governor wins. The system determines that this candidate is necessary for stability and alters the vote counts electronically. This science fiction premise foreshadowed modern concerns about algorithmic manipulation and digital security in elections. It asks uncomfortable questions about who really holds the power in a technologically advanced society.

‘House of Cards’ (2013–2018)

Frank Underwood manufactures a domestic terror crisis to halt voting in key states during the season five election. He uses fear and confusion to manipulate the electoral college and throw the results into chaos. The storyline predicted the potential for an incumbent to use executive power to disrupt the democratic transfer of power. It remains a cynical look at how fragility in the system can be exploited.

‘Doctor Who’ (2005–Present)

The episode ‘The Sound of Drums’ features the Master winning the British election under the alias Harold Saxon. He uses a hypnotic satellite network to influence voters and secure a landslide victory. The narrative serves as a metaphor for the persuasive power of media saturation and personality cults in politics. It highlights how easily the public can be swayed by a charismatic figure with a hidden agenda.

‘Futurama’ (1999–2023)

The episode ‘A Head in the Polls’ sees the preserved head of Richard Nixon win the Earth presidency. He enters the race as a dark horse candidate and wins by appealing to a sense of ruthless nostalgia. The show predicted the recurring appeal of past political strongmen returning to power. It satirized the idea that voters often choose the “devil they know” over new candidates.

‘Homeland’ (2011–2020)

The sixth season focuses on a President-elect who faces a massive disinformation campaign from intelligence agencies and right-wing media. A shock jock runs a “sock puppet” operation to turn public opinion against her before she takes office. This narrative accurately predicted the rise of coordinated fake news campaigns used to destabilize elections. The season aired just as these tactics were becoming a major topic of real-world debate.

‘Babylon 5’ (1994–1998)

Vice President Morgan Clark ascends to the presidency after the sudden death of the incumbent and slowly dismantles democratic oversight. He uses a combination of emergency powers and xenophobia to turn the Earth Alliance into a totalitarian state. The arc predicted how easily a democracy can slide into dictatorship through legal loopholes and fear-mongering. It serves as a classic example of an internal political takeover.

‘Arrested Development’ (2003–2019)

The later seasons feature a plot where the Bluth family gets involved in a campaign to build a wall on the border. The character George Bluth Sr. schemes to profit from the construction while manipulating political sentiment. This storyline appeared years before the concept of a border wall became a central issue in American presidential elections. The show satirized the intersection of real estate grifts and hardline political rhetoric.

Tell us which of these TV predictions surprised you the most by sharing your thoughts in the comments.