Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich and Republican Senator Jeff Flake represent the two opposite ends of the American political spectrum. Rival politicians inside the Capitol, they will have to put aside their differences to survive on a deserted island.
Discovery Channel's "Rival Survival" will capture the senators' one-week adventure in a special, one-night event. The show will strand Heinrich and Flake on the uninhabited island of Eru, part of the Marshall Islands where they "must work together as they attempt to spear fish, build shelter and find enough water to survive," according to Discovery.
"Whoever is going to lead the Senate going forward is going to do so with a very slim margin," Flake told the Washington Post. "The parties are going to need to work together, so we wanted to get this out before the election, now's a good time to show it."
Flake originally approached Discovery with the idea, and wanted to personally film the experience on Go-Pro cameras. He has made two similar trips to the Pacific Islands previously. The cable channel, having previously aired other survival reality shows, liked the idea but offered to film the show with their more professional equipment.
Flake represents Arizona and has a conservative, small government platform. He is vocal about immigration reform and participated with fellow Arizona senator John McCain as part of the "Gang of 8" who teamed up to change immigration policy.
Heinrich, a self-described conservationist, hails from New Mexico and sits on the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee and supports progressive education, health care and social security issues.
“We wanted to show that Republicans and Democrats can get along and survive together,” Flake said.
A ban on shark hunting has made Eru one of the greatest shark sanctuaries in the world and is surround by more than 2 million square miles of protected waters, according to Discovery. Dangerous sea creatures like venomous stonefish, lionfish and scorpion fish lurk among the nearby reefs.
Flake and Heinrich can choose three items to assist them in their survival. There is no natural source of fresh water on the island and most of their food supply will have to come from the sea.
The two senators took their personal trip in August when the U.S. Senate was not in session. The special will air on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 10 p.m. on the Discovery Channel.
