Red&Blue Replace the Statesman Event Idea
That's a nifty idea. And it creates a handful of villain side characters that could be used later on for story concepts.
If, say, Viridian, Television, and Dean MacArthur were to attempt the hostile takeover and Television won, then Dean and Viridian would go into hiding to avoid being executed publicly for their attempts to wrest power away from Television. (names chosen at random, I don't seriously believe these are good options)
you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you <3
Replacing the Statesman gets the Red Side nothing. However there is a favorite villain group that people like beating up. Most of their AVs left with the Council. So they could use some new AVs for Arcs.
So Blue Side would get the Replace the Statesman while Red Side get the Hostile Takeover: Fifth Column competition. The Blue side competes for a spot in the Premiere NPC hero group. The Red side competes for a chance to sieze control of the 5th Column and become the new AV(s) leading them.
Voting from players would be by leveling up. The contestants would be placed in the same zone as NPC trainers. When someone uses one of them to level up it counts as a vote. So people who play red side vote red side. Blue side votes blue side.
Characters who do not win could be used as new Mayhem/Safeguard characters. Some of the villains could become new 5th Column AVs reporting to the new leader. Some of the heros could be used in new arcs.