Character Relationship Map: Election

Characters

• Jim McAllister (played by Matthew Broderick) — protagonist

  A U.S. history and civics teacher who manipulates the student council election by convincing an underdog to challenge Tracy Flick. He engages in an affair with Linda Novotny, sabotages Tracy's victory...

• Paul Metzler (played by Chris Klein) — supporting

  A popular but dimwitted high school football player sidelined by a skiing accident. Jim persuades him to run for student government president, giving him a renewed sense of purpose. He casts the tie-b...

• Tammy Metzler (played by Jessica Campbell) — supporting

  Paul's adopted younger sister who enacts revenge on Lisa by running for student government president and advocating to dissolve the council. She is expelled by Principal Hendricks after a disruptive s...

• Dave Novotny (played by Mark Harelik) — supporting

  Jim's colleague and best friend, a geometry teacher who loses his job and marriage after an affair with Tracy Flick. His dismissal fuels Jim's resentment toward the lack of consequences for Tracy.

• Walt Hendricks (played by Phil Reeves) — supporting

  The high school principal who maintains disciplinary order. He suspends Tammy Metzler after her disruptive assembly speech denouncing student government, later expelling her when she is removed from t...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Tammy Metzler → Walt Hendricks (Power Disciplinary Authority) — Walt exercises direct disciplinary control over Tammy.

  Walt suspends Tammy after her disruptive assembly speech and later expels her when she is removed from the ballot.

• Jim McAllister → Walt Hendricks (Professional Teacher And Principal) — They are connected through the school's professional hierarchy.

  Jim teaches at the high school, while Walt Hendricks is identified as its principal.

• Paul Metzler → Walt Hendricks (Professional Student And Principal) — Paul's candidacy operates under Walt's administrative authority.

  Paul is a student at the high school, and Walt Hendricks is the school's principal.

• Paul Metzler → Tammy Metzler (Family Adopted Siblings) — Their sibling relationship connects the competing election campaigns.

  Tammy is explicitly described as Paul's adopted younger sister.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jim McAllister → Tammy Metzler (Conflict Adversary) — Tammy's radical candidacy complicates Jim's attempt to control the election.

  Jim is involved in the election conflict that escalates after Tammy runs for president and disrupts the established campaign.

• Jim McAllister → Paul Metzler (Alliance Political Recruiter) — Jim recruits Paul as an electoral challenger.

  Jim persuades Paul to enter the student government presidential race against the unopposed candidate.

• Jim McAllister → Dave Novotny (Social Best Friend) — Their friendship shapes Jim's resentment toward the unequal consequences of Dave's misconduct.

  The plot explicitly describes Dave Novotny as Jim McAllister's colleague and best friend.

Story Analysis

A teacher's resentment and manipulation corrupt a school election before exposing the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition.

Plot Progression

1. A Teacher Chooses a Challenger — Jim's resentment over unequal consequences makes him oppose an apparently unbeatable student candidate. He recruits Paul to enter the election and gives Paul's sidelined life a new purpose.
2. The Campaign Turns Rebellious — Paul's candidacy disrupts the expected election, while Tammy enters with an openly hostile view of student government. Her assembly speech provokes direct administrative retaliation.
3. Posters and False Confession — Campaign sabotage creates a dangerous confrontation between Jim and the leading candidate. Tammy falsely accepts blame, is expelled, and loses her place on the ballot.
4. The Stolen Election — Jim's private misconduct and isolation intensify as election day arrives. He discards ballots to alter the result, but the hidden evidence is soon discovered.
5. Exile and Moral Echoes — The scandal costs Jim his career, marriage, home, and place in Nebraska. His new life in New York does not erase his fixation, which resurfaces in Washington and at the museum.