Actor Matthew McConaughey on Friday once again floated the idea of running for political office while speaking to legislators at the National Governors Association (NGA) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
McConaughey, known for his acting roles in an array of legal dramas and romantic comedies, has mulled the idea of entering politics in his home state of Texas several times, including speculation about running for governor of the Lone Star State in 2022. He has also been politically involved on the issue of gun control, having met with President Joe Biden after the mass shooting in his hometown of Uvalde, Texas, in 2022.
Despite much speculation, the actor has not formally stated his political affiliation, leaving many to wonder what party, if any, he would align with should he seek office.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that when McConaughey was asked by New Jersey's Democratic Governor Phil Murphy about his political plans at the NGA summer conference, the star said, "I'm on a learning tour and have been for probably the last six years."
He added, "Do I have the instincts and intellect that it would be a good fit for me and I would be a good for it. You know, would I be useful?"
Newsweek left a message with McConaughey's agency for more information on Friday afternoon. Murphy's office was also contacted for comment via an online form.
Hawaii's Democratic Governor Josh Green reportedly encouraged the actor's potential run, but warned him not to "fall into the trap to think you should be just one thing."
"A lot of Republicans will want you to be Republican and a lot of Democrats will want you to be a Democrat, just be you because that might be something special for all of us," Green said, per the AP.
Newsweek filed out an online form for comment from Green's office on Friday.
The NGA, a bipartisan group of governors across the country, hosts annual meetings for leaders to discuss and address state and national issues, as well as broader political conversations.
McConaughey joined the group as a guest speaker on a panel with NGA chair Utah's Republican Governor Spencer Cox and NGA vice chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, about the "role of culture in polarization," according to the event's press release. The panel was centered on Cox's "Disagree Better" campaign, which argues that "Americans need to disagree better," and that "healthy conflict" can produce better policy when correctly engaged.
McConaughey, who is a supporter of the campaign, spoke about the current state of political affairs, saying, "We seem to be in a bad situation right now: The extremes seem to be going further left and further right. Decency doesn't seem to be on the table."
"I'm in the entertainment business. Our leaders don't need to be in the entertainment business," McConaughey said, adding, "The leadership, and especially the government, don't need to look like an episode of The Real Housewives."
He concluded his thought by saying, "It can change. I think we're all hungry for it. America is hungry for it."
fairness meter
To Rate This Article
About the writer
Mandy Taheri is a Newsweek reporter based in Connecticut and Brooklyn. She joined Newsweek as a reporter in 2024. She ... Read more
