Clint Eastwood, Kanye West, and More Celebs You Forgot Ran for Office
Clint Eastwood, Kanye West, and More Celebs You Forgot Ran for Office
Over the years, it's become clear that politics isn't just for politicians. There's a long history of famous actors, athletes, and TV personalities attempting to enter the political arena. These are some of the most notable figures who've run for office or plan to in the future—and we guarantee some of them will surprise you.
Clint Eastwood
In 1986, Clint Eastwood decided to try his luck in politics, running for mayor of Carmel, California. The actor and director won with 72.5% of the votes and served for two years.
Dwayne Johnson
In an interview with PEOPLE, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson toyed with the possibility of running for president in 2020. "If I were a betting man, which I'm not...I would say yes." Ultimately, he did file with the Federal Election Commission to set up a campaign committee, which means he would technically be able to take part in the 2020 election. But he's made no further indication that his 2020 candidacy is still on.
Cynthia Nixon
Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon announced she would be running for Governor of New York in 2018. "New York is my home. I've never lived anywhere else," Nixon said a campaign video. "I was given chances I just don't see for most of New York's kids today. Our leaders are letting us down." Despite her noble political aspirations, Nixon lost to Andrew Cuomo.
Howard Stern
Radio show host Howard Stern tried his luck in politics back in 1994, when he announced that he'd be running against Mario Cuomo and George Pataki for Governor of New York. In the end, Stern withdrew from the race after declining to submit the customary personal finance disclosure, and that was that.
Roseanne Barr
In 2012, comedian Roseanne Barr aimed to reach the highest political office in the country, that's right, the presidency. Her campaign promises were centered around "...marijuana legalization, environmental preservation, ending the wars overseas and equal rights," reported The Huffington Post. Barr ended up placing sixth in the election.
Kanye West
Rapper Kanye West has spoken on several occasions about his presidential plans. Although he originally said he'd be on the 2020 ballot, a tweet from last year suggested he could be pushing back his candidacy until 2024. "I sit in clubs and I'm like, wow, I've got five years before I go and run for office and I've got a lot of research to do, I've got a lot of growing up to do," the rapper told Vanity Fair in 2015.
Manny Pacquiao
Since May 2016, Pacquiao has served as a senator in the Philippines and the world champion boxer may have his sights set on president of the Philippines in 2022—in fact, he already has the support of current president, Rodrigo Duterte. "I told him when we were alone, I want him to become president," Duterte reportedly said at the boxer's 39th birthday party in 2017.
Oscar De La Hoya
In September 2018, the legendary boxer said he was serious about running for president in 2020. "It's real," he told the Los Angeles Times. "That's the beauty of our nation. If Arnold (Schwarzenegger) can be governor, if Trump can be president, then why can't a Mexican American who won an Olympic gold medal, who's over 35 and a U.S. citizen, run for presidency?" Since De La Hoya hasn't made it to any of the debates, it's safe to assume his political aspirations have changed.
Ben Higgins
The Bachelor reality TV star planned to run for a seat in Colorado's House of Representatives back in 2016. However, the day after he filed his campaign paperwork, he backed out. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not be able to move forward as a candidate," Higgins said in an official statement. "I find solace in knowing that our intentions and actions have been fair and sincere. I entered into this endeavor wanting to bring positive change to my community, and it is with that same spirit that I will move forward, albeit on a different path."
Shirley Temple
Despite her child star roots, Shirley Temple devoted a significant part of her life to political activism and public service. In 1967, she ran for a seat in Congress during the Republican primary, but lost to Pete McCloskey. Temple later became the US ambassador for Ghana and Czechoslovakia.
Will Smith
During an interview on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter Podcast in 2015, actor Will Smith discussed the possibility of running for office. "As I look at the political landscape, I think that there might be a future out there for me," Smith said. "They might need me out there. This is the first year that I've been incensed to a level that I can't sleep, you know? So I'm feeling that at some point, in the near future, I will have to lend my voice to the conversation in a somewhat different way."
Since then, Smith has downplayed his political intentions and it's unclear if he still plans to forge a political path later down the line.
Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken first rose to fame on season 2 of American Idol. In 2014, the singer ran for Congress as a Democratic representative in the 2nd Congressional District of North Carolina. Although he did not win the election, he's continued his political activism since.
Sonny Bono
Sonny Bono, a.k.a. Cher's former husband and performing partner, was inspired to get into politics after encountering some "governmental red-tape" involving his home and Italian restaurant, reported TIME. In 1988, Bono became the mayor of Palm Springs and in 1994 he went on to serve in Congress.
Stacey Dash
Clueless star Stacey Dash stirred up controversy when she announced her candidacy to represent California's 44th Congressional District. However, she withdrew a month later. "At this point, I believe that the overall bitterness surrounding our political process, participating in the rigors of campaigning, and holding elected office would be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of my family," Dash said in a statement to CNN. "I would never want to betray the personal and spiritual principles I believe in most: that my God and my family come first."
John Davis Lodge
John Davis Lodge reached the peak of his acting career in the '30s after starring in blockbusters like Little Women and The Scarlet Empress. In 1947, Lodge was elected to serve in the House of Representatives. The actor went on to become the Governor of Connecticut in 1951.
Sean Duffy
Sean Duffy first entered the public eye as a reality TV contestant on The Real World on MTV. He became the district attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin in 2002 and is currently a representative for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District.
Bill Bradley
After wrapping up his career as a professional basketball player for the New York Knicks in 1977, Bill Bradley became a New Jersey Senator in 1978. He held the position for a total of 18 years before announcing that he would run for president in 1999. Al Gore ultimately won the democratic nomination over him.
Sheila Kuehl
Sheila Kuehl made a name for herself as a child star on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis in the early '60s. Almost 30 years later, Kuehl made history in 1994 as the first openly gay politician elected to serve in the California State Legislature. She served 14 years in both the California State Senate and Assembly.
Al Franken
Actor and writer Al Franken started his career in the entertainment industry on Saturday Night Live in 1975. Almost 20 years and five Emmy's later, he decided to transition into politics. The staunch Democrat was elected as a Senator of Minnesota in 2009 and served until 2018.
Wyclef Jean
Entertainer Wyclef Jean announced that he would be running for the Haitian presidency shortly after the 2010 earthquake devastated the country. However, his lofty aspirations were cut short after Haiti's electoral council denied his bid. No official reason was given, but Jean believes it was because he didn't meet the five-year residency requirement.
While the singer wasn't happy about his disqualification, he urged his supporters to accept the situation. "We must all honor the memories of those we've lost—whether in the earthquake, or at any time—by responding peacefully and responsibly to this disappointment," said Jean in a public statement.
Helen Gahagan Douglas
Helen Gahagan Douglas was known for her work in countless successful Broadway musicals and operas. As a close friend to Theodore and Eleanor Roosevelt, she first became an active member of the Democratic Party in 1933. By 1944, Douglas had risen in the ranks to become the first Democratic woman in history to serve in Congress for California. She held her position for three full terms.
Jesse 'The Body' Ventura
Jesse Ventura made quite the career shift when he went from WWE professional wrestler to politician. His first stint in politics started in 1991, when became the mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. But, Ventura didn't stop there—in 1999, he was elected Governor of Minnesota as a member of the Reform Party and served until 2003.
Fred Grandy
Unlike most famous-actors-turned-politicians, Fred Grandy's career began in politics as a member of Congressman Wiley Mayne's team. Then Grandy landed a part on The Love Boat as Gopher and acting became his focus for all nine seasons of the show. In 1987, the actor decided to make a political comeback by running for Congress as an Iowa representative. Grandy came out on top and served in the House until 1995.
Diane Neal
Law & Order: SVU actress Diane Neal made a bid to become a representative for New York's 19th Congressional District. Neal ran in 2018 as an Independent, but lost to Democratic candidate Antonio Delgado.
Steven Seagal
In August 2018, movie star Steven Seagal was appointed to serve as a "special representative" for "Russian-US humanitarian ties" by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The dual citizenship holder told RT (according to Reuters), "I've always had a very strong desire to do all I can to help improve Russian-American relations."
Jon Runyan
NFL offensive lineman, Jon Runyan, played for the Houston Oilers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Diego Chargers before his political ambitions. But 2010 marked Runyan's bid to serve in Congress as a representative of New Jersey's 3rd district, and he went on to successfully claim the title. He served from 2011 to 2015.
Fred Thompson
Fred Thompson made his mark by appearing in films like The Hunt for Red October, Die Hard II, and Cape Fear. However, Thompson was best known for his recurring role as district attorney on Law & Order. In 1994, Thompson ran for a place in the US Senate as a Tennessee representative. After a successful campaign, Thompson was elected and held the position from 1994 to 2003.
Melissa Gilbert
Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert aspired to become a representative of the 8th Congressional District in Michigan in 2015. The Democrat eventually dropped out of the race due to injuries sustained during an accident in 2012. "While I have received the best treatment and therapy I could have asked for, those injuries have only gotten worse," Gilbert said in a statement issued by her campaign. "As much as it breaks my heart to say this, my doctors have told me I am physically unable to continue my run for Congress."
Jerry Springer
It may come as a surprise that controversial daytime talk show host, Jerry Springer, had a background in politics long before he started mediating domestic disputes. In 1970, Springer ran for Congress, and although things didn't go his way the first time around, he was the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1971 to 1981.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
For the majority of his career, Arnold Schwarzenegger was known for starring in actions movies and showing off his award-winning physique. It wasn't until 2003 that the public learned of his political ambitions. He beat out former Governor of California, Gray Davis, in 2003 and served until 2011.
Shaquille O’Neal
Former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal has said that in 2020 he will be running for Sheriff—but has yet to reveal where. "This is not about politics," O'Neal told WXIA (according to Yahoo!), a local news station in Atlanta. "This is about bringing people closer together. You know, when I was coming up, people loved and respected the police, the deputies. And, I want to be the one to bring that back, especially in the community I serve." We'll have to wait and see how things turn out for O’Neal.
Antonio Sabato Jr.
In 2018, outspoken Republican and former soap opera actor, Antonio Sabato Jr., challenged Democratic incumbent Julia Brownley for the spot of representative of California's 26th district in Congress. Brownley ended up beating Sabato after claiming 59% of votes to Sabato's 41%.
Nancy Kulp
Nancy Kulp made her mark on Hollywood long before she decided to run for political office in 1984. The Beverly Hillbillies actress ran as the Democratic nominee to represent Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District. Kulp told The New York Times that she was inspired by Ronald Reagan's transition from actor to politician. Ultimately, Kulp lost the election.
Kid Rock
When a convincing website "Kid Rock for Senate" started selling campaign merch in 2017, the public thought the entertainer would run for a Senate bid in Michigan. However, once Rock came clean about his true intentions, the publicity stunt made a bit more sense. "F??? no, I'm not running for Senate. Are you kidding me?" Rock said while on Howard Stern's SiriusXM show (according to USA Today). "Who couldn't figure that out? I'm releasing a new album. I'm going on tour, too."
Ronald Reagan
It's often forgotten that before Ronald Reagan became the 40th President in 1981, he was an actor. Reagan's transition from the silver screen to politics first began when he won the 1967 election and became California's Governor.
Glenn Jacobs
Former WWE wrestler Glenn Jacobs announced he would be making a bid to become the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee in 2017. In August 2018, he won over Democratic nominee Linda Haney.
Steven Michael Quezada
Breaking Bad actor Steven Michael Quezada ran for county commissioner in Albuquerque in July 2015, with the hopes of improving his community. "I was born and raised here in the district," Quezada told The Washington Post. "I'm trying to help the kids in the neighborhood where I grew up, to give them a better life." Quezada's dream became a reality in 2016 when he won the election against Adrián Pedroza and Robert Chavez.
Mark Cuban
Businessman and Shark Tank investor, Mark Cuban, has spoken on several occasions about possibly running for president. "We will see," he told Business Insider. He also dropped hints to CNBC: "I wouldn't say never, but it's not my lifelong dream. It depends on how things turn out." Cuban is an outspoken Democrat and consistent Trump opposer.
Tim McGraw
Country singer Tim McGraw also has political aspirations for the future. "I want to run for the Senate from Tennessee," McGraw told TIME. "Not now, but when I'm 50." Only time will tell if McGraw intends to follow through with his plans.
George Takei
Best known for his role on Star Trek, actor and activist George Takei had a brief stint in politics. Takei ran for Los Angeles City Council in 1973, but wasn't victorious. However, he later joined the Southern California Rapid Transit District, where he's aided in the improvement of public transportation in the region.
Or plan to in the future...