In The Politician season 2, Ben Platt returns for another campaign as Payton Hobart, the irrepressibly ambitious former student body president who is now running for election in the New York State Senate. The Netflix series has an impressive cast that also includes Judith Light as Payton's opponent, Dede Standish, and Bette Midler as Dede's campaign manager, Hadassah Gold.
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, The Politician premiered on Netflix in 2019 as the first release in Murphy's $300 million development deal with the streaming service. The Politician's David Corenswet recently returned for a leading role in another of Murphy and Brennan's Netflix shows, Hollywood.
In The Politician season 2, Payton brings his old crew of friends, allies, and former enemies with him in the race for the senate seat, with the cast mainly comprised of returning characters from season 1. However, there are a few new faces this season as well. Here's our guide to the cast and characters of The Politician season 2.
The Politician Season 2 Main Cast & Characters
- Ben Platt as Payton Hobart - A student at New York University who is running for the New York State Senate against a longtime incumbent.
- Judith Light as Dede Standish - Payton's opponent in the race, who has her ambitions set a little higher than her current role as Majority Leader.
- Bette Midler as Hadassah Gold - Dede's loyal campaign manager, who has been steering her political career for 40 years.
- Julia Schlaepfer as Alice Charles - Payton's "first lady," who is as much a partner in politics as she is romantically.
- Theo Germaine as James Sullivan - One of Payton's campaign advisers, who traditionally encourages his candidate to steer clear of dirty politics.
- Laura Dreyfuss as McAfee Westbrook - Another of Payton's campaign advisers, who isn't afraid to use subterfuge to help him win.
- Lucy Boynton as Astrid Sloan - Payton's former opponent in the student body president race, who now campaigns on his behalf.
- Rahne Jones as Skye Leighton - Astrid's running partner in the student body president race, who is also now a part of Payton's campaign team.
- Zoey Deutch as Infinity Jackson - Payton's former running partner in the student body president race, who is now a passionate environmental activist.
- Gwyneth Paltrow as Georgina Hobart - Payton's mother, who is running a very successful campaign for governor of California.
The Politician Season 2 Supporting Cast & Characters
- Ryan J. Haddad as Andrew Cashman - A former schoolmate who hates Payton but offers to help with the campaign in order to get something he wants.
- Sam Jaeger as Tino McCutcheon - A Texan Senator-Elect with a plan to run for president.
- Benjamin Barrett as Ricardo - Infinity's ex-boyfriend, who is in prison but provides counsel for Payton's team when the election takes an unusual turn.
- Joe Morton as Marcus - Dede Standish's husband, who is in a "throuple" with her and a younger man, William.
- Teddy Sears as William - The third corner of Dede Standish's throuple, whose relationship with her and her husband is a closely-guarded secret.
- Jackie Hoffman as Shelly - Dede Standish's extremely miserable and abrasive campaign office receptionist.
- Susannah Perkins as Jayne Mueller - A passionate young woman volunteering for the Hobart campaign.
- Robin Weigert as Andi Mueller - Jayne's mother, a longtime supporter of Dede Standish.
- David Corenswet as River Barkley - Astrid's boyfriend, who killed himself in season 1 and now returns to act as Payton's conscience.