13 celebrities who have run for office
Celebrities who tried their luck in politics
Politics is not just for politicians anymore. Over the years, many celebrities have tried their chances in the political arena. This includes notable figures from a multitude of fields like entertainment and sports who went all-out to shift their careers. Let us take a look at some of the high-profile celebrities who have run for office.
Ronald Reagan
Before entering politics, former president Ronald Reagan was a well-established actor who appeared in movies like 'Dark Victory' (1939), 'Kings Row' (1942), and 'Law and Order' (1953). Reagan's first position as a leader was as the president of the Screen Actors Guild in the late 1940s and 1950s. He became the 40th president of the United States in 1981 from the Republican Party and served for two terms until 1989.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Besides being an action movie star and a professional bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger also managed to build a solid political foundation. In 2003, he won the California gubernatorial election, defeating former governor Gray Davis. He served as the Governor of California for two terms until 2011.
Clint Eastwood
'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly' actor ran for mayor in his hometown Carmel, California in 1986. He won the election, securing 72.5% votes, and served for two years until 1988. Eastwood declined to run for a second term.
Kanye West
Grammy Award-winning rapper Kanye West has always been vocal about his presidential plans. He announced his 2020 presidential campaign through Twitter (now X) on July 4, 2020, but conceded later.
Glenn Jacobs
The successful WWE star Glenn Jacobs has been the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, since 2018. A Republican, Jacobs defeated Democrat Linda Haney, securing 66.39% votes.
Jerry Springer
Controversial daytime talk show host Jerry Springer's first unsuccessful political bid was for Congress in 1970. In 1971, he was elected to Ohio's Cincinnati City Council, and in 1975, he ran for Cincinnati mayor and had a landslide victory. Springer was elected two more times and served until 1981.
Jim Bob Duggar
TV personality Jim Bob Duggar, a Republican, was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003. His political career went downhill after unsuccessful bids for state Senate in 2021, securing only 15.3% of the votes.
Jesse Ventura
After retiring from professional wrestling, Jesse Ventura made a career shift in 1990, running for the mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Defeating the longtime incumbent, he served from 1991 to 1995. In 1999, he was elected as the Governor of Minnesota as a member of the Reform Party.
Dr Mehmet Oz
Television presenter and physician Dr Mehmet Oz, who identifies himself as a "conservative Republican," announced his 2022 Senate race in Pennsylvania in November 2021 through a Washington Examiner op-ed. He lost the election to John Fetterman.
Caitlyn Jenner
Olympic gold medalist and the ex of Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, ran as a replacement GOP candidate in California's 2021 gubernatorial recall election to beat Gavin Newsom. However, she secured only one percent of the total votes.
Anson Williams
Actor and singer Anson Williams, best known for the TV series 'Happy Days', tried his luck and ran for mayor in Ojai, California, in June 2022. However, he lost by 42 votes to the incumbent Betsy Stix.
Antonio Sabato Jr
Former soap opera actor Antonio Sabato Jr ran for the representative of California's 26th district in Congress for the Republican party against Democrat incumbent Julia Brownley. Sabato lost the election with only 41% of votes over Brownley's 59%.
Cynthia Nixon
'Sex and the City' actress Cynthia Nixon ran for the Governor of New York in 2018. Her political aspiration remained unfulfilled as Andrew Cuomo defeated her.