> Many of these people are seriously vying for president (yep, my aunt Helga), some of them have undoubtedly signed up as a joke (nope, not the comedian)

Reykjavik had a comedian as mayor: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/15/jon-gnarr-come...

His memoir was a good light read. Poignant and hilarious.