Fast-talking Johnny Campbell works hard as the campaign manager of gubernatorial hopeful Stogie McPhee and uses his verbal talents to persuade Pepper Wilson to marry him if McPhee wins. Pepper is uncertain of Johnny's true character, however, and begins campaigning for McPhee's rival, Gildersleeve, whom she hopes to get elected and thereby nullify her promise to Johnny. The campaign progresses at a furious pace, but the candidates soon realize that they must obtain the support of rural Potts County in order to win. The candidates and their managers travel to Pottsville, the county seat, and arrive in the midst of the county fair celebrations. The local citizens, who abhor politicians, are much more interested in the fair and in the town belle, Lulubelle Tinkle, who is the girl friend of mayor and blacksmith Gunther Potts, than they are in the candidates. Desperate to win both the election and Pepper, Johnny hits upon the scheme to convince Lulubelle and the townsfolk that Lulubelle is McPhee's long-lost daughter, who was kidnapped by gypsies as an infant. The stunt backfires, however, for McPhee has been pontificating about the benefits of his bachelor status. Certain that he is going to lose the election, McPhee makes a deal with Cash Nichols, a tough gangster, who promises to give him a cut of the money he intends to bet on Gildersleeve's victory. McPhee's running mate, Cornelius Simpson, has dropped out of the race, and when Gunther decides to replace him, despite the trick Johnny played on Lulubelle, it suddenly appears as if McPhee will win. McPhee is flabbergasted when he does indeed win the election, and in order to avoid Nichols' vengeful goons, he slips out of town. After Gunther takes over as governor, he is reunited with Lulubelle and uses his new powers to ensure Potts County a new fairgrounds. Meanwhile, Pepper is finally convinced of Johnny's sincerity and agrees to marry him.
