Shay nominates Ally for class president because she believes that no one will vote for Ally, and Shay will then be guaranteed a victory.

When their substitute teacher, Mr. Daniels, informs the class that they will be electing a class president for the first ever school-wide student government, Shay's best friend immediately nominates Shay. No one else offers any subsequent nominations because Shay has already secretly threatened her classmates that they will live to "regret it" if they attempt to run against her. After Mr. Daniels pleads for other names, Shay raises her hand to nominate Ally.

At first, Ally is shocked, but then Shay's reasoning dawns on her. Shay believes that nominating a "surefire loser" is her own best path to becoming class president. Mr. Daniels encourages Ally to accept the nomination, which she reluctantly agrees to do.

Shay's plan backfires because she has created quite a few enemies in the class; she treats people with cruelty and her speech offers only empty promises. Ally's speech, by contrast, is genuine and honest. When the votes are tallied in front of the class, Ally is again shocked to learn that Shay has lost and that she is now the class president.