TVDU CHARACTERS AND THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS :
A/N : this is my opinion … plz share urs !! :)
KLAUS MIKAELSON : Monarchist / Authoritarian with Romantic Nationalist tendencies
My man doesn’t believe in democracy. Like at all.
He sees leadership as a birthright, not something earned through elections
His obsession with legacy, bloodlines & power makes him naturally drawn to monarchist or authoritarian ideals
He wants a world ruled by someone strong, visionary & capable …
conveniently, himself (oop)
He believes ppl are too weak to govern themselves and that chaos is inevitable without a ruler like him
His centuries of betrayal and persecution have made him distrustful of collective governance
Def believes only the strong should lead ( thank u Mikael 😪)
But here’s the nuance a lot of people forget: Klaus isn’t dumb or naive
He’s brilliant, cultured, educated and incredibly strategic
Over the past thousand years, he’s observed societies, governments, and revolutions. He’s seen hierarchy, poverty, inequality, and political corruption firsthand
He knows that most politicians are puppets, and he has his own puppet politicians in his pocket
He’s aware of social struggles, the complexities of governance, and the ways people fail when left to their own devices but he doesn’t care about reform in the traditional sense; he wants to rule it better
Obviously, he’s still an elitist — he’s a Mikaelson, after all
The family just naturally sees themselves as above everyone else, and honestly they kind of are
When you’ve lived for a thousand years, immortality gives you a certain… perspective and maybe a little boredom with the ordinary
So yh Klaus loves wealth, luxury and grandeur
He’s into art, history, and the finer things in life, but he’s far from shallow his tastes are cultivated, not just flashy
His (modern) equivalent would probably be someone like Napoleon aka a figure who assert control and rebuild “empires.”
prob knew him personally lol
To him, every “new order” eventually becomes the same old corruption
That’s why he keeps his own “politicians” in his pocket because if you can’t trust the system, you might as well control it…
But when Hope comes into his life, that cynicism softens not into idealism, but into protective awareness
Suddenly, politics matter because now the world’s chaos could touch his daughter
“Never trust a man who smiles too much, sweetheart. I’ve seen politicians lie their way into empires and burn them down just as fast.“
He’d make sure she knows how the world really works … not to scare her, but to arm her
He’d raise her to be shrewd, skeptical and aware of manipulation bc he’s been playing that game longer than anyone alive
He’d call politicians “petty men in suits playing gods”
ELIJAH MIKAELSON : Conservative Democrat / Aristocratic Traditionalist
That man believes in structure, civility & moral restraint
He’d appreciate order but also justice
definitely a “noble diplomat” type
the man probably ironed his pocket square during the French Revolution
He isn’t as power-hungry as Klaus; he values codes, honor and diplomacy.
He genuinely believes in justice and honor, but in that old-fashioned, deeply structured way that comes from a thousand years of existing above everyone else
In modern politics, Elijah would likely align with moderate conservatives or centrist Democrats who champion stability, responsibility + moral duty.
His faith in law, promises, and morality would make him reject populism and chaos
Centuries of witnessing human corruption have made him believe that systems must be guided by integrity, not passion
Think old-school JFK-era Democrat meets 19th-century European aristocrat
He’d probably write long opinion pieces about “the decay of modern political discourse”
He’s still a Mikaelson though which means he’s arrogant and fully aware of his status
He carries himself like an aristocrat because, well… he kind of is one
Politically, he’d land somewhere around a conservative Democrat or old-school centris
Think JFK energy : eloquent, moral, pragmatic. He’d value stability, discipline, and personal responsibility over chaos or populism
And yh, Elijah’s respectful toward women ( probably more than most men from his era ) but he’s not the modern feminist ideal people make him out to be
He has traditional views on love, marriage, and gender roles, the kind that come from someone raised in a medieval family structure
He respects women, yes, but through a chivalric lens rather than an egalitarian one
He would have seen potential in Kennedy : a young, idealistic leader navigating a rapidly changing world
and likely offered counsel behind the scenes, or at least observed him closely in political circle
He’d probably compare current leaders to the ones he personally knew, judging them not only on policies but on character, composure and honor
He’d likely be disappointed in populists and chaotic politicians bc centuries of observing human corruption have given him a low tolerance for incompetence
REBEKAH MIKAELSON : Independent / Liberal Feminist with Libertarian streak
Rebekah’s entire arc revolves around freedom
the right to live, love & choose for herself blah blah blah
but it’s more complicated than that bc she’s all about freedom, but she’s also deeply tied to family, status, and old-world ideals
She grew up in the Mikaelson family, which means wealth, elegance, and a certain elitist pride are baked in
Rebekah loves her family’s legacy, their manners, their jewelry, and the way they carry themselves
she’s not showing off to be humble, she just knows she’s from greatness
At the same time, she hates being controlled, which puts her firmly against authoritarian or traditionalist ideologies
However, her romantic side would make her sentimental toward some old-world ideals
I feel like after centuries of being told what to do by Klaus and men in general, she values bodily autonomy, self-expression, and personal happiness
her lived experience as a woman in patriarchal eras gives her strong feminist convictions
But she’s also sentimental and idealistic about certain traditional things: marriage, family, and having children are not just romantic fantasies for her… they’re deeply personal goals
That’s where her conservative streak shows: she values loyalty, stability & the kind of structured family life she never fully had growing up
would prob be vocal about women’s rights, reproductive freedom and anti-patriarchal movements
HAYLEY MARSHALL : Progressive Democrat / Socialist Leaning
Hayley’s politics are rooted in survival and social justice
She fights for her people : the disenfranchised, the forgotten, the hybrids and werewolves
She believes in equality and fairness & she hates hierarchies that favor power over compassion.
Having grown up as an orphan and outcast, she deeply relates to marginalized communities
Her experience as a hybrid mother raising a child in a world that fears her kind makes her fiercely anti-elitist
She’s canonically the type of mom who tells Hope that her body is her own, which is a very “pro-choice, feminist” stance
so yh totally a progressive Democrat, leaning toward socialist ideas when it comes to social programs and fairness
KOL MIKAELSON : Apathetic Cynic / Libertarian Conspiracy Theorist (for fun) / (Anarchist ??)
Politically, Kol’s nihilistic
He doesn’t believe in systems, governments, or authority
not out of rebellion like Klaus but out of boredom and disbelief
He’s clever, irreverent, and distrusts authority (even his own family’s)
Centuries of being controlled, punished and restrained by his siblings have made him allergic to any structure
so yh he’s too smart to trust authority, too jaded to care & too mischievous not to stir the pot anyway
he’s seen it all: revolutions that turn into dictatorships, democracy that breeds corruption, leaders who promise change and deliver nothing
To him, power is always dirty, no matter who holds it
His dabbling in witchcraft and forbidden magic gave him a rebellious streak that naturally clashes with institutional power
He’d vibe with anti-establishment movements : hacker collectives, digital anarchists, chaotic trickster types…
Would vote only to mess with Elijah & Klaus
He’d show up, cast his ballot for whoever would annoy his brothers the most
and then spend the next week mocking everyone for believing their vote actually mattered
involved only when it’s entertaining
like his brothers ( even tho daggered a lot ) Kol’s been around long enough to see empires rise and fall, kings replaced by parliaments, revolutions eaten by the same corruption they tried to destroy
so to him, politics is just another version of the same old circus
He’d say things like “You mortals change flags every century and call it progress”
here’s the fun part tho : I stand on the fact that Kol would also be deep into conspiracy theories ( kinda canon with the whole Silas plot lol) not bc he actually believes them ( def does most of the time ) but because he enjoys the chaos of them
He’d go on rants about shadow governments, mind control, and secret societies and the worst part is half the time he’d be right lol
He’s lived long enough and met enough powerful people to know some of those conspiracies aren’t theories at all
You just know he’s gone down the “Who really killed JFK?” rabbit hole more than once
He’d be harassing Elijah over it
“Come on, brother, you knew him, didn’t you? Just tell me who pulled the trigger.”
Meanwhile Elijah’s sipping his bourbon like “Kol, for the last time, I am not discussing 1963 again.”
He’s that brilliant, slightly unhinged friend who half-jokes about the Illuminati but also has real evidence bookmarked somewhere
Would probably have an anonymous blog exposing government lies “for entertainment purposes only”
FINN MIKAELSON : Authoritarian Moralist / Stoic Conservative with Existential Guilt
He’s the kind of man who hates indulgence not because it’s sinful, but because it makes people weak. He despises chaos, excess, and lack of discipline … and his siblings embody all three 👀
His self-loathing as a vampire shows how deeply he values purity. He believes eternal life is a curse and redemption only comes through death or atonement
His relationship with Sage proves he’s capable of deep passion and even sensuality. The difference is that he compartmentalizes it.
He sees physical pleasure as fine in moderation, but detests when desire leads to chaos or loss of self-control
The point is he’s not against pleasure — he’s against decadence
He prob thinks most people can’t be trusted with freedom, so authority should be centralized and strict
Someone who admires “orderly” regimes, not necessarily fascist but like deeply skeptical of democracy and individualism.
Think of the type who believes society is falling apart because people have “no self-control”
In the originals it’s another story
When possessing Vincent’s body, he shows intellectual rigor, strategic thinking, and focus
canon even supports the idea that he helped Camille with her psychology thesis
A fun headcanon is that Finn may have experimented with a communist or socialist ideology at some point lol
Klaus would roast Finn mercilessly over that
“Finn, you naïve fool. Do you really think giving everyone the same scraps works? Look at history — bloody revolutions, dictators, starving masses! Absolute chaos disguised as justice!”
He might have been fascinated by ideas of equality, fairness and structured societal support basically “everyone works together for the greater good”
But his experience as a Mikaelson likely clashed with extreme collectivism: being born in a family where hierarchy, bloodlines, and elitism matter
he would have realized practical limitations and grown bored
FREYA MIKAELSON : Socialist / Feminist / Secular Humanist
Freya’s politics come from a mix of life experience and personality
She spent centuries being trapped, manipulated, and used by her own family … mostly Dahlia, but also seeing the chaos her siblings caused
That gave her a really strong sense of justice, empathy & solidarity, especially for those who can’t fight for themselves
She naturally leans progressive: equality, education, healthcare, and caring for your community are big deals for her
But here’s the thing — like Elijah… family is everything to Freya
She’s super loyal and would do absolutely anything for her siblings
That makes her a little different from someone who’s purely idealistic: her political views aren’t just abstract principles; they’re filtered through her love and protection for her family
Would vote progressive, pro-science, pro-LGBTQ+, pro-healthcare.
mostly is a progressive thinker with a huge heart for her family
MIKAEL & ESTHER : Religious Monarchists
Mikael : Ultra-authoritarian, patriarchal, obsessed with discipline and strength
Classic “my way or death” father figure
Esther: Theocratic authoritarian
believes in divine order, purity and moral hierarchy.
She’d support laws that enforce “righteousness”
CAMI O’CONNELL : Progressive Democrat / Social Justice-Oriented
Cami would be very much Democrat-leaning
+ her uncle and twin brother were pastors
she’s not religious herself, but she’s the type of Christian who actually lives out the values: helping others, being generous, and understanding people from all walks of life
Combine that with her career as a psychologist, and you’ve got someone who really gets human behavior, social class and inequality
probably a Bernie Sanders stan
She’s all about social justice, healthcare, education and protecting marginalized people
Her empathy is genuine : she understands both systemic issues and individual struggles. She believes in giving people opportunities and fighting inequality
socially conscious, compassionate and principled
the type who votes out of empathy and understanding, not just party loyalty
MARCEL GERARD : Pragmatic Monarchist / Progressive-Conscious but Selective
Marcel’s worldview is shaped by his past as a slave, growing up in poverty, and then being adopted by Klaus
That makes him really aware of injustice, especially when it comes to minorities, and he actually respects it when people rise up and fight for themselves
He canonically says about how being immortal is amazing bc you get to watch all these social shifts happen over centuries
Politically? He’s kind of all over the place
On one hand, he’s a monarchist at heart (thanks to Klaus) so he’s all about hierarchy, order, and being in charge. He wants control and likes to run things his way, especially in New Orleans
On the other hand, he hates injustice, at least when it affects his city or the people he cares about
He protects vampires, keeps the Quarter safe, and looks out for his “family,” but yeah… he discriminates sometimes too. Witches and werewolves? Not his favorites in the beginning
Basically, Marcel is pragmatic and strategic
He cares about his people, he wants social mobility for those he deems worthy, and he’ll play politics like a chess game to keep the Quarter running smoothly
He’s not rigidly ideological — he mixes his monarchist instincts with a selective sense of fairness
He’s loyal, clever, and strategic : kind of a street-smart king
KEELIN MIKAELSON : Moderate Democrat / Centrist Progressive
She leans Democrat, with a centrist-progressive tilt
I feel like she’s practical
she votes for candidates who are competent, ethical and effective, rather than just ideologically aligned
Keelin literally risked her life and career to help people in Lebanon during Season 5, which would make her acutely aware of global inequalities, the struggles of marginalized populations, and the importance of public health systems
Since she’s a doctor, she’d prob support policies like universal healthcare, vaccination programs, and humanitarian aid
Think a Bernie-leaning Democrat but extremely pragmatic someone who supports healthcare, women’s and minority rights
and competent leadership, but isn’t interested in drama or ideological posturing
STEFAN SALVATORE : Moderate Democrat
Stefan’s upbringing was steeped in conservative values
is the kind of guy who actually believes in doing the right thing, not just saying it
He’s empathetic, believes in redemption and sees the good in people
that’s classic moderate Democrat energy
He’d probably support social programs, education, and healthcare, but still be very personal-responsibility minded.
He’s traditional in relationships, disciplined in his habits, and cautious about excess change …
so he wouldn’t be a radical progressive, but a thoughtful, idealistic liberal
Think “quiet liberal who volunteers, reads about ethics and believes people can change.”
would admire leaders who prioritize ethics over ambition, making Jimmy Carter a perfect fit for his political tastes
DAMON SALVATORE : Libertarian with Chaos Tendencies
Okay, so Damon is a weird mix.
He grew up in Giuseppe’s super conservative house — the guy was all about family honor, discipline, and Southern tradition
So yh Damon fought for the Confederacy back in the day, probably because Giuseppe pressured him .. still a weird plot if u ask me specifically since they didn’t develop it
But it’s mentioned that he deserted
Fast-forward to vampire Damon, and politics is basically whatever he wants it to be
He doesn’t care about government, parties, or ideology
Freedom is the only thing he really values, and he loves messing with authority
He hates being told what to do, would probably call politicians “idiots”.
He’d probably vote for whoever lets him live his life the easiest, or maybe just to annoy Stefan then make a joke about it.
He’s smart enough to play both sides & cynical enough to think everyone’s corrupt anyway
He’s like a libertarian with some leftover conservative seasoning
She’s the kind of person who believes in community, kindness, and helping others — so she’d naturally lean Democrat
She volunteers, believes in free college or healthcare and supports equality across the board.
She’s also a little idealistic so her politics would mirror that same energy of “we can make the world better”
The “hope and unity” voter who still cries at campaign ads
Unlike many Mystic Falls families, the Gilberts are relatively progressive: her father, Grayson Gilbert, is a doctor, socially aware and values education, healthcare and community
He’d very likely have been a strong supporter of Obama, healthcare reform, and policies aimed at improving social equity
Elena herself is intensely family-oriented
She often frames her opinions and decisions around what her parents would think or approve of, which aligns her worldview closely with her father’s values
She’s compassionate and empathetic, always thinking about the well-being of others, which makes her naturally drawn to Democratic ideals
Think of her as someone who blends Michelle Obama’s pragmatism, empathy and charisma with a young progressive’s hope and idealism
the classic “do-gooder” voter, but informed and conscientious.
JEREMY GILBERT : Independent / Swing Voter
Jeremy’s young, impulsive, and constantly questioning authority
He doesn’t fit neatly into any political box : too open-minded to be conservative, too rebellious to be disciplined about progressivism
He’d vote based on the moment or what aligns with his emotions at the time
just a politically confused art student who ends up voting independent because he hates being predictable.
BONNIE BENNETT : Progressive / Green Party Vibes
Bonnie’s deeply spiritual and community-oriented
She’s not someone who talks about making change — she does it
She would be the kind of voter who believes politics is personal
Her identity as a Black woman in a historically insular Southern town gives her firsthand understanding of systemic inequality
Combine that with her witch heritage (which in the TVD universe is essentially a metaphor for being exploited by those in power) and Bonnie’s politics become deeply intersectional
She’d fight against institutions that abuse or marginalize others, whether human or supernatural
She knows change starts locally, in schools, neighborhoods, and families.
She’d believe in uplifting people through empathy and opportunity rather than punishment
She’s not the loudest in the room politically — she’s the one quietly organizing, donating, and showing up when it matters
Bonnie’s the one at protests with a homemade sign, offering water to strangers ect
Think AOC compassion meets Angela Davis’s principles
CAROLINE FORBES : Centrist / Moderate Democrat with Conservative Roots
Caroline definitely grew up in a Republican household
Her mom, Sheriff Liz Forbes, gives off strong conservative energy : law enforcement background, belief in guns (“I believe in my gun the way some people believe in God”) and a general “law and order” approach to the world
Mystic Falls itself is a traditional, old-Virginia kind of town, so Caroline’s early environment would’ve been steeped in conservative values
As a teenager, Caroline wouldn’t have cared much about politics. She’d be the girl who says, “Politics are so boring — can we talk about prom instead?
Her world revolved around social life, image, and control, not policy debates
But as she grows up (especially post-vampire transition), Caroline becomes more empathetic, more aware of injustice, and a lot more politically conscious
Her personal experiences (loving people from all backgrounds, losing her mom, and fighting literal supernatural prejudice) would push her toward the Democratic side, but she’d still keep that structured, rule-following, “law and order” streak from her upbringing
So as an adult, she’d probably identify as a centrist or moderate Democrat, someone who supports equality and fairness but still values tradition, safety, and personal discipline
Think “progressive values, conservative methods”
MATT DONOVAN : Conservative Democrat (Working-Class Realist)
Matt looks like the “Republican quarterback,”
but his background flips that assumption
He grew up poor, worked multiple jobs, and saw firsthand how systems fail people like him
That gives him social awareness
he’s not far-right or even traditionally conservative; he just values discipline, responsibility, and community
He’d probably identify as a moderate or conservative Democrat : pro-labor, pro-community, but skeptical of elite politicians
The blue-collar small-town guy who says “I just want people to have a fair shot.”
TYLER LOCKWOOD : Republican with Progressive Tendencies / Compassionate Conservative
Tyler’s early life screams old-money Republican: heir to the Lockwood legacy, son of Mayor Carol Lockwood, raised in a household steeped in Southern tradition, family pride and respectability
His mother, Carol, is textbook Republican matriarch energy
Don’t get me started on his dad
They prob loved the Bush era lol
Tyler himself, though, would have a complicated relationship with it
He’s a football star, charismatic, and used to privilege aka the classic small-town “all-American” package
In high school, he’d probably have identified strongly with the party his parents supported, fully embracing law, order, and loyalty to social hierarchy
Tyler’s political worldview begins to shift when he discovers he’s a werewolf and later interacts with the larger supernatural community
Suddenly, he sees first-hand what it means to be “othered,” discriminated against, or feared simply for who you are
This experience fosters empathy and an awareness of injustice especially for marginalized or misunderstood communities
He would still identify Republican tho
The rich small-town legacy kid who knows his privilege but still votes to protect it
KATHERINE PIERCE : Libertarian / Self-Serving Independent
Katherine doesn’t believe in government, morality, or systems … she believes in Katherine Pierce ✨
She’d vote for whoever protects her freedom, power and money
Libertarian in principle, opportunist in practice
She’s pragmatic, not ideological, her political stance is “whatever benefits me most”
Would say: “Why vote when I can just manipulate the governor?”
Fun fact: did you know that in The Originals there was originally supposed to be a storyline about vampires working in government like senators and other political positions???? They ended up scrapping it, so it never really went anywhere :/ I think it would have been soooo interesting to see vampires navigating the human political system
