<P> Underwood trails Dunbar in the polls, eventually losing the New Hampshire primary . Realizing that he needs Claire to win, he persuades her to come back by promising to support her run for a congressional district in Texas . However, he sandbags her prospective candidacy by endorsing a political ally's daughter, in order to keep Claire focused on his campaign . On the day of the South Carolina primary, Claire retaliates by arranging for two compromising photos to be leaked: one of Underwood's father with a Klansman, and one of Underwood posing with a Confederate Civil War re-enactor . Underwood deduces that Claire was behind the leaks, and confronts her . Claire calmly admits what she did, and puts forth a proposition: that she run as his vice president . He angrily rejects the idea . </P> <P> Lucas Goodwin is released from prison and, seeking revenge for Barnes' death, shoots Underwood at a campaign rally, hitting him in the liver . He also mortally wounds Meechum, who manages to kill him before succumbing to his injuries . Underwood is rushed to the hospital for immediate surgery, and falls into a coma . It is soon discovered that he needs a liver transplant . Stamper manages to bump him to the top of the transplant list, and he survives . Once he recovers, he agrees to let Claire run as his vice president . </P> <P> Dunbar drops out of the race due to the discovery of a meeting she'd had with Goodwin a few days before the attempt on Underwood's life . Underwood begins planning to maneuver Claire into the VP spot and to use the NSA to illegally obtain voter information and spy on the Republican nominee, Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman). This happens while Underwood and Claire advocate for a controversial gun control bill for the sole purpose of creating an atmosphere divisive enough to weed out potential running mates . During the resulting open convention, Underwood intimidates the front - runner, Secretary of State Catherine Durant (Jayne Atkinson), into surrendering her delegates, and uses the public sympathy from Claire's mother's death to ensure that he and Claire are nominated . </P> <P> When American extremists loyal to the terrorist group Islamic Caliphate Organization (ICO) kidnap a suburban family, Underwood allows Conway to negotiate with them, making his opponent look like a hero - and then releases NSA data that proves Conway illegally influenced Congress . Soon afterward, however, Underwood is hit with two crises at once: ICO's leader orders his followers to kill one of the hostages, while journalist Tom Hammerschmidt (Boris McGiver) exposes Underwood's crimes in the Washington Herald . Facing disgrace and possible impeachment, Underwood decides to declare war on ICO and allow the public to see the hostage die in order to distract from the scandal and create an atmosphere of widespread fear that he and Claire can exploit in the weeks before the election . </P>

Who plays senator conway in house of cards