Truly support
independent journalism
Our mission is to provide unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds the powerful to account and exposes the truth.
Whether it's $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us in offering journalism without agenda.
Matthew McConaughey has hinted at a possible run for political office.
The 54-year-old actor attended the 2024 National Governors Association Summer Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 12. At the event, McConaughey, known for his roles in Dazed and confused and True detective – spoke on a panel with bipartisan leaders on how to promote civility in politics.
Asked by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, about his political aspirations, McConaughey replied: “Yes. I have thought about running for office, getting into that category.”
“I’m on a learning journey and I’ve probably been on a learning journey for the last six years to understand what this category means,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “Do I have instincts, intellect that tells me it would be a good fit for me and that I would be a good candidate for it? That would be helpful.”
“I’m still in that learning stage and, you know, on days like this I’m learning a lot. I learned a lot last night. I learned a lot from you last night. Through that tequila, through that tequila, sir,” he told Murphy, who had mentioned drinking McConaughey’s Tequila Pants with him.
According Fox NewsHawaii Gov. Josh Green encouraged McConaughey to run, but he also didn't want him to feel pressured to choose a particular party affiliation, such as Republican or Democrat.
“Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to be just one thing, because I think you’re very, you know, warm and personable. A lot of Republicans want you to be a Republican, a lot of Democrats want you to be a Democrat, just be yourself, because that could be something special for all of us,” Green said.
He How to lose a guy in 10 days The actor later explained that he has noticed polarization in Hollywood, especially when it comes to actors and directors' opinions on politics.
“My camp has to be careful what it says because it comes from the left. We have to start that conversation with our opening statements and not invalidate a moderate or conservative from the beginning, which we are guilty of to some extent,” McConaughey said.
The father of three also urged American voters to amplify the voices of “the adults in the room” while hinting at his thoughts on the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
“It feels like we’re in a bad place right now,” McConaughey said, according to The hill“Extremists seem to be moving further and further to the left and further and further to the right. Decency does not seem to be on the table. It seems that the rules of the game need to be renegotiated and re-established.”
He Interstellar The star acknowledged that there is an “entertainment” factor in American politics, but joked that the government should not “seem like an episode of Real Housewives.”
He added: “I understand that it's hard to market and sell success the way people market it, because it's not as fun, it's not as sexy, it's not as exciting as the car crash. We're a nation of curious people.
“I think we’re all caught up in short-term, short-term victories right now. That’s why we sit around the table, we argue, we insult each other, and America sees a lot of us when we do that: This is entertainment. I’m in the entertainment business. Our leaders and our leaders don’t need to be in the entertainment business.”
This isn't the first time McConaughey has hinted at a possible run for political office. The Texas native has previously shared that he has considered running for governor of the Lone Star State. “I don't know. I mean, that wouldn't be up to me. It would be more up to the people than it would be up to me,” he said in a statement. The Hugh Hewitt Show in 2020.
However, just a year later, McConaughey announced that he had decided not to “go down the path” of running for governor of Texas.
While the Oscar winner has been vague about his political affiliation, McConaughey has been a vocal advocate for gun control following the May 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting that occurred in his hometown of Uvalde.
