Top 10 SNL Presidential Debate Sketches

Season 41
The first Democratic primary debate of 2016 featured five candidates vying for the opportunity to become the party’s nominee. But let’s be honest, everyone was only interested in two: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. This “SNL” sketch hilariously captured that truth, treating the others practically as stage props. The sketch also introduced us to Larry David’s eerily accurate impression of Sanders, which was so spot-on, it was almost unsettling. Clinton and Sanders face off against each other, covering everything from her email scandal to his crusade against big banks. And then there was former Virginia Senator Jim Webb, who battled for attention, only to quickly back down when his controversial views came under the spotlight.

Season 46
Everyone who watched the 2020 Vice Presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence came away buzzing about one thing: the fly. That moment was parodied in this sketch which kicked off with Pence quietly taking the podium, while Harris made a grand entrance, dancing and spraying disinfectant everywhere. Then, in a twist on the 1986 horror “The Fly,” Joe Biden tries to teleport into the debate, but ends up as - you guessed it - a fly. As if that wasn’t enough, a second fly joins the mix, revealed to be the reincarnation of Herman Cain. Despite all of the chaos, Maya Rudolph’s Harris completely steals the show, delivering zingers and priceless reactions, before finally doing what we all wanted to do.

Season 14
Clocking in at a whopping 14 minutes, this spin on the second 1988 presidential debate between George H. W. Bush and Michael Dukakis threw everything at the wall. And most of it stuck. From the moment Dana Carvey’s Bush gave Jon Lovitz’s Dukakis a patronizing pat on the head, we knew we were in for a wild ride. Although Carvey’s Bush impression wasn’t fully polished yet, he still nailed the then Vice President’s robotic delivery and knack for dodging important questions. Lovitz also held his own against Carvey, expertly capturing and poking fun at Dukakis’ icy, emotionless demeanor. The sketch wrapped up on a high note, by bringing out a literal child to play Bush’s running mate, Dan Quayle.

Season 46
By the time the 46th season of “SNL” premiered in October 2020, all anyone could talk about was the chaotic first debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. So it made perfect sense that the season opener zeroed in on the trainwreck, delivering a highly anticipated parody. The real-life debate had no shortage of lies, insults and interruptions, and this sketch did its best to keep pace. It nailed the absurdity, portraying Trump as more interested in interrupting than debating, while Biden remained focused on maintaining his cool amidst the chaos. Of course, no “SNL” political sketch would be complete with a bunch of cameos, with Maya Rudolph returning as Kamala Harris and singer Harry Styles turning in a surprise pre-taped appearance.

Season 38
Ever since he became the Vice Presidential candidate in 2008, we’ve seen many iterations of Joe Biden on “SNL.” But none quite match the high-octane, in-your-face energy of Jason Sudeikis. This hit its peak in the 2012 VP debate spoof against Taran Killam’s Paul Ryan, where Biden constantly threatens physical harm against Ryan, flexing his “old man” strength. Oh, what difference time can make! The rest of the sketch doesn’t stray far from the actual debate, often lifting quotes directly from the candidates. But it still delivers big laughs with its over-the-top moments, from Ryan chugging water like a camel to Biden’s desperate attempt to connect with young voters. And let’s not forget the cherry on top: a surprise cameo from Usain Bolt.

Season 34
Four years before taking on Paul Ryan, Joe Biden squared off against Alaska’s folksy Governor Sarah Palin in the 2008 Vice Presidential debate. “SNL” alum Tina Fey hilariously embodied Palin, nailing the quirky spirit of the entire election season with lines that quickly became pop culture staples. In this sketch, Fey kept the laughs rolling, giving ditzy answers that had nothing to do with the questions asked by Queen Latifah’s moderator. Biden, on the other hand, was depicted as torn over his feelings for Palin’s running mate, John McCain, his “dear friend” turned opponent. The sketch wrapped up with a nod to Palin’s beauty pageant past, as she whipped out a flute, ready for a talent portion that never was.

Season 38
Sometimes, the most absurd “SNL” debate sketches are the ones that take the tiniest moments from the real-life debates and spin them into the most hilarious fantasies. Take this one, for example. In the actual first debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012, the President was criticized for looking distracted. “SNL” took this and ran with it, depicting him zoning out because he forgot his wedding anniversary and desperately pondering what gift to get the First Lady. Then, he starts griping about the high altitude in Denver, where the debate took place. But why stop there? Everyone from Romney to moderator Jim Lehrer gets their own introspective voice-over moment. Because, of course, who doesn’t deserve one?

Season 2
In one of “SNL’s” earliest debate parodies, the show set the stage for political satire in America for years to come. Featuring Chevy Chase as a heavily medicated Gerald Ford and Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter, this sketch wasted no time diving into absurdity. Chase dramatically reveals a syringe sticking out of his suit and buzzes in as soon as the national anthem starts, eager to “name that tune.” Things only go downhill from there, as Ford fumbles over his past blunder on Soviet Union domination in Eastern Europe and Carter leans into his reputation for womanizing. While Chase and Aykroyd’s impressions were ridiculously good, perhaps the real highlight came at the end, with the nonsensical list of credits.

Season 42
The hotly contested 2016 presidential elections saw candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton face off in three debates, all of which received the “SNL” treatment. But perhaps the most blistering spoof was the third and final one, featuring Tom Hanks as moderator Chris Wallace, and Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon returning as Trump and Clinton respectively. The sketch starts off with Trump promising to be calm but, as expected, he quickly reverts to his usual antics, hurling insults and tagging his opponent a “nasty woman,” just like in the actual debate. Meanwhile, McKinnon portrayed Clinton as the steady, grounded candidate, brimming with confidence and happy to watch her rival crash and burn. Ah, well, we all know how the real story ended.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

2020 Democratic Debate, Season 45
“SNL” Shows off Its Deep Bench of Talented Performers, With Several Spot-on Impressions

GOP Debate Cold Open, Season 41
Darrell Hammond & Beck Bennett Shine in a Face-off Mostly Between Trump & Jeb Bush

2nd Presidential Debate, Season 30
Kerry Has an Unknown Plan, While Bush Plans to Get Rid of the “Bad Internets”

CNBC Presents the Third Republican Presidential Debate, Season 37
A Fascinating Who’s Who of Who Didn’t Become President in 2012

Final Debate, Part 1; “ Weekend Update Thursday,” Season 1
Joe the Plumber Steals the Show in This Sketch, Even Though We Never See Him

Season 26
Much has been said about how the first presidential debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush contributed to Gore’s eventual defeat. If anything, this parody of the debate hammered that nail even deeper into Gore’s coffin. The sketch amplified the Vice President’s tendency to devolve into technical tirades, highlighted by the constant references to his notorious “lockbox.” But Bush didn’t escape unscathed either. His knack for mispronouncing words inspired the “SNL” writers to coin the now-famous “strategery,” a line so iconic that Bush himself jokingly embraced it. Perhaps the 2000 election might have turned out differently if the debate had gone another way, but one thing is clear: few “SNL” sketches have had such real-world implications as this one.

Which of these is your personal favorite “SNL” debate sketch? Sound off in the comments below.