The Kid Who Ran for President

Judson Moon is the 12-year-old protagonist of The Kid Who Ran for President. Lane describes Judson as looking “like an all-American boy” (6), the trait that leads to Judson’s presidential run. Looks, a likable personality, and making people feel good are touted as perfect qualifications for a presidential candidate. Judson’s average demeanor and intelligence make him the “every kid,” a stand-in for any kid who could run for political office. Throughout the book, Judson’s presence and actions parody candidates in a presidential race.

For much of the story, Judson is a practical joker who treats everything like a game. In the early stages of his campaign, he doesn’t believe Lane is serious about getting to election day, and Judson does whatever he feels like doing, which earns him national attention because he contrasts so much from other candidates. As Judson begins to see the gravity of his situation, his jokes become less of a default setting and more of a way to deal with the pressure of the campaign. When his games get him in trouble and lower people’s opinion of him, Judson realizes the significance of