Actor Matthew McConaughey said in a recent episode of the “Set it Straight: Myths and Legends” podcast that he is still considering a run for political office.
During the episode, the podcast’s hosts, members of the country band Midland, urged McConaughey to consider running for office in Texas and said they admired his ability to spread awareness and positivity.
“Well, thank you, man. I’m measuring it. Look, it’s going to be in some capacity. … I just — I’m more of a folksy and philosopher poet statesman than I am a, per se, definitive politician,” McConaughey told the hosts in an episode released yesterday.
“So I go, well, that’s a reason not to, but then I go, no, that’s exactly why you should, because politics needs redefinition, but I’m measuring, you know, what is my category? What’s my embassy?”
McConaughey has previously said a run for Texas governor in 2022 is a “true consideration.” His latest comments come after a poll this week showed that he leads Gov. Greg Abbott
Greg AbbottBudowsky: Newsom soars while Trump, Abbott, DeSantis ratings lag Biden launches investigation into Texas school mask mandate ban Texas governor signs more abortion restrictions into law MORE (R) 44 percent to 35 percent in a hypothetical race.
Earlier this year, Sen. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzSchumer moves to break GOP blockade on Biden’s State picks Bipartisan senators to hold hearing on ‘toxic conservatorships’ amid Britney Spears controversy GOP senators seek to block dishonorable discharges for unvaccinated troops MORE (R) said he hoped the actor would not enter the race, saying, “I think he would undoubtedly be formidable” during an interview on the “The Hugh Hewitt Show.”
Axios reported earlier this week that Beto O’Rourke
Beto O’RourkeAnti-Greg Abbott TV ad pulled minutes before college football game: Lincoln Project O’Rourke prepping run for governor in Texas: report Support for Abbott plunging in Texas: poll MORE is reportedly getting ready to enter the governor’s race, though the Texan has not officially made an announcement.
Republican strategist Karl Rove
Karl Christian RoveChristie, Pompeo named co-chairs of GOP redistricting group Christie to co-chair fundraising program for Republican governors The Hill’s Morning Report: Afghanistan’s future now up to Afghans, Biden says MORE told Politico earlier this year that he found a McConaughey run to be “improbable, but it’s not out of the question.”
McConaughey acknowledged on the “Set it Straight” podcast that even if he were to run for political office, he wanted to remain a storyteller and an artist.
“I have to remain an artist. I’ve earned my right to enjoy that Saturday night part of life, that music part of life. It has to have music to it. You know what I mean. I’m very good at being diligent, Monday morning, practical, structure, I’m all of that. But I gotta continue to be an artist in what I do,” McConaughey said.
“Now if that’s the category to be able to do that in, which would be different than, I think, some people have done it up to now, maybe it’s for me. But maybe it’s also in a whole new category that I just create, and we’ll see,” he added.
