- Leslie: The idea behind this campaign was a simple one. That, with hard work and positivity, a group of people can make a difference. During my term as your City Councilor, I want to focus on your hopes, and not your fears. I want to solve problems instead of creating friction. And I will work hard, every hour of every day, to make Pawnee a better place to live. Because I love this city. And I know, firsthand, how very special the people of this city are. I owe this victory, all of it, to my friends and my supporters. No one achieves anything alone. So let's embark on a new journey together. Let's break out a map. Not the old, out-of-date one that shows where we've been, but a crisp new one that shows where we might go. Let's embark on a new journey together. And see where it takes us.
It's election day in Pawnee, and Leslie and Bobby are neck-and-neck in the latest poll. Leslie and Ben meet with the election commissioner to denounce the voting machines provided by the Sweetums Corporation, which are heavily biased in Bobby Newport's favor. Ben successfully gets the rigged election machines removed from the precincts. Later, Leslie votes for herself while Bobby has no idea how to work the machine. During the long day of waiting for results, Leslie gets Ann to distract her and keep her occupied.
Jennifer Barkley, impressed with the work he did on Leslie's campaign, offers Ben a six-month job in Washington, D.C. to help on a congressional reelection campaign she's running. However, he would have to leave in two days, which upsets Leslie, who just wants their lives to get back to normal now that the campaign is over.
Chris has finally emerged from his depression after having sex numerous times with Jennifer, but he is oblivious that the sex is meaningless to her.
Tom, having had a dream that Ann got back together with him, offers to host the election party. Meanwhile, Jerry spends all day handing out flyers, thinking that the polls close at eight.
Leslie and Ben try to figure out what to do with Jennifer's offer. Ann suggests Leslie asks Ben to stay, and Ron tells Ben to also remain, citing his own love for routine. Ben reminds him that if Leslie wins, Ron's routine will change since he will become Assistant City Manager. Leslie asks Ben to stay and he agrees.
At the Parks Department, April is panicking after she accidentally deleted all the department's files from the computer. She calls Andy for help, but he doesn't know what to do. They decide to leave town and spend some time thinking of other jobs they'd like to do. All of Andy's choices revolve around law enforcement (like his often-used alter ego, FBI agent Burt Macklin). Their troubles are resolved when Donna comes in and reveals that she has a back-up copy of the files because Jerry accidentally deletes files all the time.
The team gathers to hear the election results. Jerry is terrified that Leslie will lose by one vote since he didn't get a chance to vote. The results show that Bobby won by twenty-one votes, but Ben demands a recount. Jennifer desperately wants the election monitors to just call the race so she can leave Pawnee, and offers Leslie Joe Biden's home telephone number if she'll give up, but Ben stands his ground and the monitor leader immediately orders the recount to begin.
During the recount process, Leslie sits in the City Council chambers, where Ron finds her lamenting letting her friends down after they worked so hard for her. Ron tells her that he and the Parks Department joined her campaign because they care about her and her dream, not the reward of winning. Hearing this, Leslie tells Ben he should accept Jennifer's job offer. Ann then comes in and reveals the recount results: the margin is still twenty-one votes... in Leslie's favor, to Leslie's overwhelmed jubilation and Jerry's (and Bobby's) relief. Ben accepts Jennifer's offer and she leaves without saying goodbye to Chris. Ron turns down the Assistant City Manager position, content with his current job. Jean-Ralphio returns and asks Chris for the job, but he is turned down immediately.
Leslie asks Ben about the concession speech that he wrote, but he reveals that he never wrote one. She goes on to give a heartfelt victory speech, thanking her friends and supporters for all their work. Later, a drunk Ann gets back together with Tom and even agrees to move in with him, fulfilling his dream. April points out to Andy that most of his dream jobs are in law enforcement, and he should try to become a policeman.
Tropes
- Aborted Arc: Earlier on in Season 4, Chris offers Ron the position of Assistant City Manager. Ron seems intrigued by the opportunity to slash even more items from the budget, but here in the closing episode of the season, Ron ultimately declines the position.
- Ambiguously Brown: Leslie tells Ann that Ann's "ambiguous ethnic blend perfectly represents the dream of the American melting pot."
- Decided by One Vote: Jerry is scared that this could happen when he forgets to vote for City Council. It doesn't.
- Dissonant Laughter: After the election is initially called for Bobby Newport, Leslie bursts into laughter. "Because my dream is dead!"
- Graceful Loser: Bobby is all too happy to concede the election to Leslie.
- Lampshade Hanging: The election commissioner points out the town law that automatically gives the male candidate the win over the female candidate in the event of the tie is superseded by state anti-discrimination laws and won't hold up.
- On Second Thought: When Leslie and Ben try to call for a recount on her city council election:Jennifer Barkley: Hold on, we can make a deal...Leslie: There is no deal you could make that we would accept!Barkley: I'll get you Joe Biden's home phone number.Leslie: Now hold on, that's interesting...
- Running Gag: Andy destroying a flat-screened computer monitor or TV.
- Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: Jennifer Barkley desperately wants to get out of Pawnee, even offering to give Leslie Joe Biden's home phone number if they drop their demand for a recount. When the election commissioner starts a recount, Jennifer has a minor breakdown over it, because she desperately wants to get out of the city.
- Stay in the Kitchen: Pawnee has an obscure law that states that if an election is tied, then the male candidate wins by default, and the female candidate gets sent to jail. The election commissioner says that it won't hold up in state court, but it is Pawnee law.
