Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
After President Garrett Walker gives the secretary of state post to Michael Kern instead of Frank Underwood, Frank and his wife Claire turn their disappointment into a campaign to control the new administration. Frank uses reporter Zoe Barnes to leak damaging information, then takes charge of Walker’s education bill and engineers Kern’s withdrawal. At home, Claire cuts staff at her Clean Water Initiative while negotiating with donors and former colleagues, and Frank’s chief of staff Doug Stamper keeps the couple’s political operations moving.
Frank recruits Pennsylvania congressman Peter Russo after Russo’s arrest for drunk driving with Rachel Posner in the car. Frank arranges the cover-up and pushes Russo toward sobriety and a run for governor, while using the campaign to advance his own plans. Russo’s effort is repeatedly strained by the shipyard closure in his district, his past drinking and the Underwoods’ shifting alliances. Claire’s own organization faces conflict with employee Gillian Cole, and Claire balances the CWI’s expansion against the people left behind by its cuts.
After Russo threatens to expose Frank and Doug’s role in the false story that drove Senator Michael Kern from the cabinet race, Doug arranges for Rachel to get Russo drunk before a live radio interview ruins his gubernatorial campaign. Frank later kills Russo by leaving him in a running car in a garage. Frank had already persuaded Vice President Jim Matthews to run for governor in Russo’s place. Zoe, Janine Skorsky and Lucas Goodwin trace the old DUI and Rachel’s connection to Doug, but they have not yet exposed Frank. Walker offers Frank the vice presidency; Frank accepts, while Claire faces Gillian’s lawsuit.