Election Night (Veep)

It's election night and President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is in a hotel suite with her key campaign staffers (Tony Hale, Matt Walsh, Kevin Dunn, and Gary Cole); her running mate, Tom James (Hugh Laurie); and her daughter, Catherine (Sarah Sutherland). They are watching the election returns on CNN, where ex-staffers Amy (Anna Chlumsky) and Dan (Reid Scott) are appearing as political pundits. Her friend, Karen (Lennon Parham), comes to join them at Selina's invitation. Staffers Jonah (Timothy Simons) and Richard (Sam Richardson) are preparing Selina's campaign rally. As each state returns results, Selina anxiously laments her losses. Sue (Sufe Bradshaw) is in the White House with a friend (Susan Kelechi Watson), stating that she will leave politics if Selina loses. During an on-air break, Amy leaves to go watch the election returns with Selina.

After Wisconsin is initially called for her opponent, Senator Bill O'Brien (Brad Leland), the call is rescinded. Shortly after, her team celebrates that Selina has won Colorado. Tom asks to speak to Selina privately, and alone in her bedroom, Tom states that he would like to be Treasury Secretary as well as Vice President. Selina responds angrily but does not refuse.

Sue and Amy arrive in the hotel suite as Pennsylvania is called for O'Brien. Based on the electoral college votes, Selina is significantly losing to O'Brien. Tom encourages her not to quit, but Selina states she is ready to concede. As Selina calls O'Brien, Dan calls Mike, who is on his way to the vending machine, to let him know that Pennsylvania was the wrong call. Mike runs back into the hotel suite just in time to prevent Selina from conceding to O'Brien. Then, CNN calls Pennsylvania for Selina.

Jonah calls Kent to ask if Tom can go to the rally but Selina refuses to let him. Fox then calls Washington state for Selina and Ohio for O'Brien. If Selina wins Virginia, they will be tied. No one on staff knows what happens in case of an unprecedented tie.

The staffers read online that each state will get one House vote and the first candidate to receive 26 will win the Presidency, and the Senate chooses the VP. If there is a tie in the House, the Vice President-Elect will be president, which, in this case would be Tom James. Selina is flabbergasted and begins to cry.

Tom goes to the rally, and when Selina finds out, she angrily runs after him. Selina interrupts Tom onstage and dismisses him to address the audience. On CNN, Dan announces that Selina won Virginia, so the election is officially a tie. Selina begins to recite parts of the I Have A Dream speech. Once backstage, Amy calls Dan to request he put in a good word for her at CNN. Tom asks Selina if she would like to be his Vice President if he becomes President.[4]

The episode received positive critical reception. Jessica Goldstein rated the episode 5/5 stars for Vulture.[5] In a review for The A.V. Club, Kate Kulzick wrote, "This is Veep firing on all cylinders, each character serviced and contributing to the larger whole with a clear narrative providing plenty of fodder for them to play with. The comedy is informed by character and runs the gamut from subtle reactions in the background to goofy physicality to profanity and rage-fueled takedowns."[1]

• "Election Night" on HBO
• "Election Night" at IMDb