American electoral politics is in such a state of disarray, even your common Hollywood celebrity feels emboldened enough to flirt with a possible run for governor.
Celebrities of all kinds have voiced their interest in running for public office, and some of them have even been successful. Some of them have been successful and a great addition to American politics.
Ronald Reagan comes to mind, who started his career in Hollywood, but eventually became a conservative hero and one of America’s greatest presidents.
Then there’s the obvious: Donald J. Trump.
Arguably the greatest president in modern American history, a true countercultural figure, and still the most divisive man in the world.
However, some celebrities should stick to their craft and leave politics to those with perhaps a little more experience of know-how.
Such is the case with actor Matthew McConaughey, who was rumored to be running for governor of Texas in 2022.
McConaughey posted a video to his Twitter account over the weekend, informing followers of his decision not to run for governor.
McConaughey said he had been studying politics in Texas and the country as a whole. While he admitted the idea of seeking elected office was “humbling and inspiring,” McConaughey said he ultimately decided it was not the path to go down “at the moment.”
The “Magic Mike” actor said earlier in the week that people would learn of his decision soon, noting that “great sacrifice” would come along with the choice to run.
— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) November 29, 2021
A November poll by the Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas Tyler showed McConaughey beating both incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and former Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke in head-to-head matchups. In a three-way race, Abbott was able to slightly outmatch the other two.
Instead of launching a campaign, McConaughey said he would continue to invest in “entrepreneurs, businesses, and foundations” he believes are “creating pathways for people to succeed in life.”
It’s hard to picture a Governor McConaughey and even more difficult to imagine an all-encompassing political platform guiding his administration.
While on one hand McConaughey’s brief foray into politics does keep alive the aspirational feeling of American democracy. On the other hand, however, it’s probably best to stay out of the fold during arguably the most contentious political moment in U.S. history.
Author: Sebastian Hayworth
