Rachel needs some extracurricular credits on her record, so she decides to run for student council president. The Drama Club is rehearsing a production of Bye Bye Birdie, but Mr. Belding informs them it must be cancelled since the budget committee has cut the club's funding. Eric nominates Katie to run for student council president to fight for the Drama Club. Katie's serious campaign is being outdone by Rachel's flashy but trivial campaign, so Nicky and Eric help Katie to liven things up. But when Katie tries to talk about the Drama Club issue, Nicky cuts her off. Screech's poll has the candidates neck-and-neck. Maria has the candidates on her Bayside TV show. They take questions from the audience, during which Rachel's campaign manager Ryan manages to turn the other clubs in school against the Drama Club. Katie loses the Drama Club support when it isn't mentioned in her campaign video. Afterward, Katie thanks Nicky for handling her campaign—then immediately fires him. She goes back to her old style of campaigning. Rachel realizes Katie is the better candidate and wants to be council president for the right reasons, so she withdraws from the race and gives her former rival her support.