Payton Hobart

Payton Hobart, played by Ben Platt, is the main character in the satirical teen dramedy The Politician on Netflix. 

The wealthy adopted son of a billionaire, Payton has an unnervingly deep drive to become the student body president of his Santa Barbara prep school, convinced it will clinch his path to the White House. Surrounded by a ruthless team of teenaged campaign staffers and his doting childhood sweetheart with Jackie O. ambitions, everything looks to be lining up for his candidacy— until River, Payton’s sporty Mandarin teacher, and lover, decides to run against him.

Payton has no qualms talking about his bisexuality with River— doing so in the first ten minutes of the pilot— but is not generally open with his girlfriend or his campaign team about his orientation, trying to lift up other parts of his platform for better optics. 

While Payton is blisteringly smart and excellent at pivoting when given new information, his ambition can rise to dastardly levels, often hurting and sacrificing others to the greater cause of his desire for the office. Still, Payton is not without his charms or sympathetic moments, creating a nuanced and fascinating portrait of moxie and cunning in the political hell that is high school.