ABC’s political thriller “Designated Survivor” introduced the concept of who a designated survivor is – a cabinet member chosen by the President and his aides who doesn’t attend the Presidential inauguration or the State of Union addresses incase something catastrophic were to happen at these gatherings. This survivor ensures that the Presidential line of succession is intact. Meaning that this survivor can becomes the President in case all cabinet members are killed.

However, what audiences and the common man doesn’t know is that over the past decade there have been not one but two designated survivors. One is chosen from the ruling party and the other is chosen by the opposing party. “Designated Survivor” Season 1, episode 2 is going to introduce the second survivor – Congresswoman Kimble Hookstraten (Virginia Madsen) – reports TVLine.

“It is an actual, real thing” the ABC TV show’s executive producer, Jon Feldman, told the website, “Just as Kiefer [Sutherland]’s character [Tom Kirkman] is the designated survivor, the opposing party that’s not in power appoints one of their own.”

Should anything happen to President Tom Kirkman, the opposing party’s designated survivor would become the President.

Sutherland was also shocked to learn that there are two designated survivors. “I knew about the first designated survivor before I read the script. I knew it was in the Constitution. But I didn’t know that there’s a representative from each party. So in our scenario, the Republicans have a designated survivor in case something happens to me.”

This second designated survivor isn’t just someone who might replace Kirkman in the event of a catastrophe. Congresswoman Kimble Hookstraten also serves as the voice of her party.

The question now is whether Hookstraten will support President Kirkman or whether she has a hidden agenda. Will she support him and then deviously remove him from power? Only time will well.

Watch “Designated Survivor” Season 1, episode 2 on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 10 p.m. EDT on ABC.

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