“If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”
That line allegedly comes from Harry S. Truman, and while its presidential origin is questionable, the underlying sentiment is clear: Washington—and politics in general—can be a tough place for human beings. Perhaps that’s why Barisk, an 18-month-old Scottish Fold cat, was able to beat his Homo sapiens competitors by a huge margin in a recent online poll for the upcoming mayoral elections in the Siberian city of Barnaul, home to around 700,000 people.
He’s not alone.
Throughout history there have been nonhumans who managed to claw their way into elections—even winning a few, against all odds. From cats and dogs to more exotic animals, electoral history is peppered with instances of interspecies candidates: some serious, some satirical, and each a unique entry in the larger enterprise we call “democracy.”
These are a few of our favorites.
Security cam footageCanva
Gif that reads "We've got your back" via 
Salesman at car dealership speaks to a woman in a carCanva
Hands held up to the sky make a 'heart' signCanva
Take a deep breath.Image from 
A animated version of box breathing. 
Navy SEALs strain under the weight of their boat.Rennett Stowe 
Family laughing and playing together.Image from 
Representative Image: He'd rather be home, but he has to provide. 
Hand signs an invoiceCanva
Gif of Colin Ferrel via 
A woman hands her neighbors a giftCanva