Primary Phantoms
This former mayor of South Bend, came to fame in the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primaries. He served in the Biden Administration as Secretary of Transportation, making him the first openly gay Cabinet Secretary. He was nicknamed Mayor (first name) and later Secretary (first name).
Who is Pete Buttigieg?
This former President was a trailblazer in the Oval Office. He's the latest President to win a Nobel Prize(maybe next year Donald!) helped reform healthcare with the Affordable Care Act, and created the DACA program to protect Dreamers.
Who is Barrack Obama?
This country's ex-prime minister, Justin Trudeau, recently started dating pop star Katy Perry.
What is Canada?
Home of Buc-ee's, this state recently redrew its congressional maps mid-cycle to create 5 new Republican seats in the House of Representatives.
What is Texas?
This Supreme Court Justice is an alum of Notre Dame Law School and is a former Notre Dame Law Professor
Who is Amy Coney Barrett?
This independent Senator came second in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic Primaries.
Who is Bernie Sanders?
This President spent the longest time in office. During that time, he created many of the social programs and government agencies we still rely on such as Social Security, the Federal Housing Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, etc.
Who is Franklin Delano Roosevelt?
This country's parliament recently voted to oust Prime Minister Lecornu who'd been in office for less than a month. President Macron then re-appointed Lecornu as Prime Minister 4 days later.
What is France?
This state, known for not letting you pump your own gas, will elect a new governor on November 4th, 2025. You can help phone bank for future Governor Mikie Sherrill, tomorrow from 6-8 pm. We will be providing a room number soon.
What is a shameless plug? Sorry, I mean what is New Jersey?
This late alum and President of the University was a civil rights activist who opened the University to women in 1972. For a while he held the record for most honorary degrees held by an individual.
Who is Father Hesburgh?
This Republican started his political career as a candidate for president in 2024. After that he briefly co-lead DOGE before leaving, and is now running for Ohio Governor. In college, he performed Libertarian-themed raps under the stage name "Da Vek."
Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?
The first Democrat to be elected President is also Donald Trump's favorite Democratic President. This war hero of the Battle of New Orleans is largely responsible for the "Trail of Tears." He is quoted as saying at the end of his presidency: "I regret I was unable to shoot Henry Clay (the House Speaker) or to hang John C. Calhoun (his Vice President)."
Who is Andrew Jackson?
This country recently experienced a political revolution led by Gen Z. They elected their interim prime minister using a discord poll.
What is Nepal?
During this State's gubernatorial debate, Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears suggested that it's not discrimination to fire gay people because they're gay.
What is Virginia? (Quote provided below to show I'm not spinning this at all. That's quite literally what she said.)
"Spanberger said, 'My opponent has also previously said that she thinks it’s okay for someone to be fired from their job for being gay. That is discrimination.'
Earle-Sears repeated: 'That’s not discrimination.'”
This Pennsylvannia Congressman is not only an alum of Notre Dame but is also an Alumni of Notre Dame College Democrats.
Who is Brendan Boyle?
Under the current primary calendar, This State will have the first democratic primary every presidential election cycle.
What is South Carolina?
This Georgia governor courted conservative voters during the presidential primary but proved to be forward thinking in office. He created the Department of Education and Energy, lifted a ban on LGBTQ people in the US Foreign Service, and installed solar panels on the white house. He deregulated airlines and beer-brewing, which would eventually lead to the rise of microbrewing.
Who is Jimmy Carter?
This country's opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
What is Venezuela?
What is Nebraska?
This ND alum is currently a state senator in Michigan and is running to represent Michigan in the US Senate. You may remember her from earlier in the year when she visited Notre Dame for a book signing.
Who is Mallory McMorrow?
This territory voted for Jason Palmer over Joe Biden in the 2020 democratic Primaries. This makes it the first time an incumbent President has lost a contested primary since 1980.
What is American Samoa?
This Democratic President was the first elected since the Civil War. He's known for being a tireless opponent of corruption and for opposing Republican attempts to impose high tariffs(sound familiar?). On the more negative side, he married Frances Folsom while in the White House, who was half his age.
Who is Grover Cleveland?
This country recently held elections for its legislative assembly after its long civil war came to an end. The country's ex-dictator has reportedly become addicted to video games.
What is Syria?
This state's superintendent, Ryan Walters, recently announced he was resigning. He has a storied legacy to look back on, like buying 500 copies of Donald Trump's "God Bless the USA" Bible for public schools, or trying to establish chapters of Turning Point USA on every public high school campus.
What is Oklahoma?
This ND Alum is the latest Democrat to represent Indiana in the US Senate. After his term, he was appointed to serve as the Ambassador to the Holy See by Joe Biden.
Who is Joe Donnelly?