The Kid Who Ran for President

The election is the main event and external conflict of The Kid Who Ran for President. The book presents the election as it occurs every four years in America and parodies the process by having a 12-year-old kid enter the race. By telling the story from Judson’s perspective, Gutman shows the election from the inside and outside. Judson’s campaign offers a glimpse at the media image candidates must uphold, as well as the many people and hours it takes to run a successful campaign. From the outside, Judson is new to campaigning and brings only a basic knowledge of the election process to the story. Placing someone who knows little of political workings into a presidential race is both irony and satire.

Gutman pokes fun at the election process while also showing respect for it. Exploring the work that goes into a campaign makes it clear the election is not to be taken lightly, but the emphasis on image and entertainment shows how the election is not just about the important work of choosing a president. The election forces Judson to change. While he remains a joker throughout the book, he learns to take things seriously, evidenced by his decision to resign after being elected.