General Hospital 'What If' Week of Feb. 16, 2026: Sidwell forces Laura to back Willow for Congress

General Hospital is turning the political games upside down in Port Charles. While we originally believed that Laura (Genie Francis) and Ezra (Daniel Cosgrove) would compete for Drew's (Cameron Mathison) congressional seat, the show has decided to pit Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) against one another. This story can go in any number of directions, with Willow being the one who shot Drew and Alexis being one of the few people who know the truth.

Willow doesn't think anyone knows what she did, so she is taking Sidwell's suggestion seriously. Maybe Willow can go to Washington and become more powerful than she ever imagined. However, Alexis is also dreaming of finally having the chance to champion for the underdogs. What neither woman knows is that Sidwell has been pulling political strings for months and has one particular politician unwillingly doing his bidding. What if Sidwell uses his power over Laura to fill the seat how he sees fit?

General Hospital's political puppet master

Laura wants Alexis to take Drew's congressional seat on General Hospital | Image: ABC

Sidwell gave Drew quite a warning before Willow was set free to induce her husband's faux stroke. He had to do what Sidwell said or else. At Sidwell's Boxing Day celebration, he wondered if Drew was becoming too much of a liability in Congress. He contemplated pulling some strings and replacing him before the perfect opportunity just fell in his lap. Thanks to Willow, Drew now has to be replaced. So, it's a good thing Sidwell has another PC politician under his thumb.

Laura knows she has to do Sidwell's bidding or he can pin Dalton's murder on both her and Sonny (Maurice Benard). Laura has been playing along with Sidwell in the hopes that Sonny can work behind the scenes and bring him down, but for now, Laura is stuck. Since she is the one the governor is counting on to recommend a replacement, Laura might be forced to recommend Willow after she already approached Alexis about taking the seat.

The night Laura found Dalton's body in her trunk and called Sonny for help was the night Laura was doomed to do Sidwell's bidding. However, she also knows it would make little sense for her to recommend Willow, so might she find a way to fight back?

A little competition goes a long way

Willow is the wild card in Sidwell's plan | Image: ABC

Sidwell knows that Laura can't look like she is working for him. She has to remain a fine and upstanding mayor so she can continue doing whatever he pleases. That means that Laura has to make it look like a real special election race. Will she convince Sidwell that she needs to recommend Alexis as a temporary replacement, but work behind the scenes to help Willow win the seat?

That means that Port Charles and GH fans will still get to see the would-be murderess and her actual murderess lawyer run against one another for a very powerful position. And Alexis will have to decide whether to reveal the truth about her client's criminal ways. She knows Willow can't be tried again, but she also knows that kind of scandal can at least sway New York voters, so she's in the right state.

Even Sidwell isn't aware of that tidbit of information, which makes Willow a wild card in more ways than one. Willow Tait is now a minx who can turn on the waterworks, turn on the charm, and turn off her vindictive streak in the blink of an eye. Sidwell thinks he is backing someone who will be in his back pocket, but Willow has surprised everyone so far. Little Miss Innocent, she is not. Imagine what she might do to Sidwell if she learns he paid off the judge to give Michael her kids. Sidwell might come to regret his choice, indeed...

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