Luna Lovegood, June 21, 2003 (Edinburgh, Scotland) -
VP candidate for Harry Potter Alliance (2016, 2020)
Running mate with nominee (2016, 2020): Hermione Jean Granger (b. 1997)
Popular vote (2016, 2020): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2016, 2020): 0/538
The campaign (2016):
On Sept. 18, 2015 the Harry Potter Alliance announced--
BIG NEWS: Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood have announced their run for presidency! Show your support with the Granger/Lovegood 2016 bundle available only at hpa10.com
Read the press release:
Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood Announce Entrance Into 2016 Presidential Race
Providence, Rhode Island - Are you ready for Hermione? If not, you might want to begin preparing yourself for the greatest political coup of all time.
At a press conference held on the front steps of Brown University’s student center, Hermione Granger announced her candidacy for President of the United States of America.
“I am running for witches,” she proclaimed. “I am running for muggle women. I am running for all oppressed peoples and magical creatures. I am running because you deserve a candidate who’ll buck politics as usual and bring a little more magic to the White House.”
In a legitimate first for any political campaign, Granger went on to provide extensive details regarding her policy positions, as well as concrete plans for achieving her goals. Granger was less specific when asked about how she’s eligible for the United States presidency without being a US Citizen.
“I found a loophole,” she said enigmatically before changing the subject. “You can read more about my campaign by creating an account on my app, Grangr. All the wizard kids are using it.”
Granger also took a moment to plug her campaign’s merchandise, which is being sold exclusively in a bundle via the Harry Potter Alliance’s 10th anniversary fundraiser at HPA10.com. The bundle includes a Granger/Lovegood 2016 t-shirt, a campaign sign, an iron-on patch, and a Ready for Hermione bumper sticker.
Granger was joined by running mate Luna Lovegood, who became distracted mid-announcement when she claimed a horse-mounted university cop was a thestral. She grabbed the microphone from Granger and asked if anyone else could see it. When everyone responded that they could, in fact, see the police horse, she began hugging everyone in the audience and expressing sympathy for their losses.
“I guess awkward sympathy hugs are the new baby hugs,” muttered Granger under her breath.
Many campus groups showed up in support of Granger’s announcement, but none were as boisterous and enthusiastic as Brown University’s Feminist Majority. Members of the group held up signs reading Granger Is Our Queen and Trample Deez Nuts -- either a reference to the mysterious candidate currently polling at 9% in North Carolina or a jab at the patriarchy in general.
Hermione Granger first appeared in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997. In the stories she was born in 1979. Luna Lovegood made her debut in Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2003. I gather that although of different personalities they represent a formidable combined girl power.
One of the t-shirt vendors advertised thusly--
This geektastic t-shirt promotes a Granger Lovegood 2016 ticket for the next United States presidential election. Designed by the Harry Potter Alliance and available from DFTBA records, this fashion choice will appeal to a wide variety of internet nerds.
The blue American Apparel tee was made using only freed elf labor, according to the product's description. All proceeds from the sale of the Granger Lovegood 2016 top will go to the Harry Potter Alliance. The non-profit organization is run by Harry Potter fans and founded by Andrew Slack in 2015 to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
While Hilary Clinton might be gunning to be the first female president, Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood would certainly make a formidable pair at the White House.
The campaign (2020):
On Feb. 17, 2020, the Harry Potter Alliance announced--
BREAKING: Hermione Granger is running for President!
In a time characterized by divisiveness, fear, and hate, we're mobilizing fans to imagine and build something different: a collective future grounded in compassion, equality, and love.
Throughout 2020, Team Granger will take concrete, real world action to protect the right to vote, register and turn out voters, and speak out on the issues that matter most. We'll train and mobilize thousands of fans, and it starts right now.
Make 2020 magical: Join Team Granger at Granger2020.org
The HPA 2020 platform was actually a quite serious effort to mobilize the fanbase--
Democracy
Democracy thrives when voters are informed, engaged, and imaginative. In the United States and around the world, democracy is under threat. Team Granger will take decisive action to protect and expand the right of the people to make their voices and votes heard.
Restoring Checks and Balances. Our system of checks and balances protects a democratic form of government that serves the people, and does not allow any one person to accrue too much power or place themselves above the law. Team Granger will support efforts to restore the balance between the branches and demonstrate that the President is not above the law.
Ensuring Free, Fair, and Accessible Elections. Vibrant, active, and equal participation in elections is essential to a healthy democracy so that citizens can choose their representatives. Team Granger will join ballot initiative campaigns that protect our elections and expand voting access.
Protecting Civic Discourse and Marginalized Communities. Effective democracies are built upon a discourse which values facts, and does not seek to divide and demonize certain communities. Team Granger will commit to government transparency and accountability, with protections for the press, dissent, open debate, and minority communities.
Hermione endorses the Democracy Platform 2020.
LGBTQIA+ Equality
LGBTQIA+ people today enjoy more rights, acceptance, and visibility than any time in recent history. With this greater visibility and support, the LGBTQIA+ also faces great potential for prejudice and bigotry. Trans and gender non-conforming face particular threats, lawmakers and individuals debate their most basic public and medical rights. Team Granger will fight for equality and stand in solidarity as LGBTQIA+ people and allies.
Gender Equity
Hermione is an intersectional, trans-inclusive feminist. Team Granger supports the right to choose, increased access to education and leadership for girls, women and nonbinary people, and the elimination of gender-based violence and discrimination. Team Granger will fight for a more gender equal world.
Youth Advocacy
The voices of young people are essential to building a more sustainable, just, and loving world. Young people are too often left out of making the decisions that shape their present and future. Team Granger will work to make sure that young people have the skills, tools, and allies they need to make their voices heard.
Racial Justice
White supremacy and settler colonialism are two of the greatest threats facing our society. The only way to build a more sustainable, just and loving world is by understanding our history, unlearning our bias, and taking concrete action to support the fights led by communities of color - including but not limited to increasing diverse representation, decolonizing our systems, and ending police brutality and mass incarceration. Team Granger will work in partnership with communities of color to be accomplices in the fight for racial justice.
Immigration
Our world is at its best when we are together. Our borders - drawn not by indigneous communities but by colonizers - should act as doorways, not walls. Team Granger will take action on comprehensive immigration reform that creates paths to citizenship and ends the human rights atrocities taking place at the United States-Mexico border.
Education & Libraries
A thoughtful and well-educated public is essential to building a more equal world. Schools and libraries should be beautiful, well-funded, vibrant community centers that are accessible, welcoming, and supportive to all. Team Granger will fight to make sure that libraries and educators have the resources they need to help their students and patrons change the world.
Media Reform
A free press and access to fact-based journalism is essential to maintaining a strong democracy. As America drowns in a wave of misinformation and Rita Skeeter-isms, biased reporting, and shrinking support for journalism, we must support diverse voices, well-researched media, net neutrality, and great media literacy. Team Granger will support net neutrality, media literacy efforts, free press and fact-based journalism.
Climate Crisis
The climate crisis is real and disproportionately affects people of color, impoverished communities, and young people. The world has waited too long, but now is the time for quick and decisive action to end our destructive dependence on fossil fuels and usher in new, renewable technology. Team Granger will fight for the Green New Deal and work toward a just and sustainable future for all.
Granger 2020 is a campaign by the Harry Potter Alliance, an international 501c3 nonprofit that turns fans into heroes. We’re harnessing the power of pop culture to make activism more accessible for everyone.
The fanbase is already at work creating Granger/Lovegood 2024 merchandise.
Election history: none
Other occupations: fictional character
Notes:
I took my daughter to see the first Harry Potter movie long ago, and that was my only contact with their franchise. Most HP references are lost to me.
