Well, at least we know how that happened now...

[josephina_x]

Smallville started in 2001. Its tenth season started in 2010 and ended in 2011. Seven years later, Lex Luthor was being sworn in as president -- in 2018. Presidents are sworn in / inaugurated in late January, the year after they are elected -- thus, Lex was elected in 2017. Note that the election years in the Smallville universe are one year later

Comments

[five_pm]

Huh. It all makes perfect sense now.

(BTW, is it canon that Lex ran as a Democrat (for Kansas Senate)? I did not know that...)

[josephina_x]

:)

If I remember correctly, they didn't say it outright, but it was heavily implied given (1) the fact that he was running directly against Jonathan (in the main election), (2) what their respective policies and "fan"bases/main-voter-demographics were, and (3) the fact that it was a very close race in Kansas (had to be the two major parties, neither of them as an independent). Valid point, though.

[phoenixnz]

I would have thought Lex was Republican, but what do I really know about US politics? I just see him as being that verse's Trump. Way too many similarities.

I like your explanation about the timing.