Politics seeps into many aspects of our lives and sports are no different.
Throughout history, many athletes have taken a stance on political issues. Let's look at Muhammad Ali, a staunch opponent of the Vietnam War. Pat Tillman, who left the NFL to serve in the military. Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who raised their fists in a display widely known as a black power salute during the 1968 Olympics. The list goes on and on.
In the realm of recent sports, there have been numerous athletes who have expressed their opinion on politics. Whether quietly supporting a political candidate or speaking out about important political issues, many athletes have decided to get involved.
Riley Gaines, Herschel Walker and Colin Kaepernick are athletes who have entered the world of politics. (Getty Images)
24 CELEBRITIES AND MEDIA FIGURES WHO RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE
- Riley Gaines
- Herschel Walker
- Caitlyn Jenner
- butcher harrison
- Lebron James
- Colin Kaepernick
1. Riley Gaines
When Riley Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer, competed against Lia Thomas, a biological male who swam for a women's team, she leveraged her experience and became a spokesperson for the fight for “safety, privacy and equal opportunity” for women.
Gaines has testified before the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and numerous state legislatures, according to his website.
“I can attest to the tears I witnessed from finalists who were not named All-American by one place. I can attest to the extreme discomfort in the locker room of 18-year-old girls exposed to male body parts and having to undress with a man looking in the same room,” Gaines said on his website.
Riley Gaines is a former swimmer who has taken a strong stance on women's rights. (Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
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Gaines also hosts the “Gaines for Girls” podcast on OutKick and has spoken to crowds at several events.
2. Herschel Walker
Before becoming a political figure, Herschel Walker was an NFL athlete.
He was a running back who played college football at the University of Georgia, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1982. In 1999, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Walker played 12 years in the NFL.
Walker was also an Olympian as a member of the 1992 United States bobsled team.
More recently, Walker has become involved in politics. According to Walker's website, former President Trump appointed him chairman of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
Herschel Walker, a former NFL player, is running for office in 2022. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)
In 2022, Walker is running for a US Senate seat in Georgia, the state where he was born and raised.
Walker lost the election to Democrat Raphael Warnock.
3. Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner is an Olympic gold medalist who set a world record in the decathlon during the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
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After Olympic glory, Jenner became a reality star with “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”
In 2015, during an ABC TV interview with Diana Sawyer, Jenner came out as a trans woman.
Since then, Jenner has been an advocate for the trans community.
Caitlyn Jenner came out as trans in 2015. (Phillip Faraone/WireImage)
In 2021, she was the Republican candidate in a recall election against Democrat Gavin Newsom, but failed to remove him from office. Even after his defeat, she has talked about running again.
4.Harrison Butker
Harrison Butker made a national splash with his commencement speech at Benedictine College in May 2024.
Butker held nothing back during his religious speech, in which he presented his opinions on several topics.
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Butker, a kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, spent time during his speech speaking directly to the female graduates and how they should embrace what he considers “one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.”
“Some of you may go on to have successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are more excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” Butker said. “I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly began when she began to live her calling as a wife and mother.”
He also shared his stance on divisive issues like abortion.
Harrison Butker covered several political topics in his commencement speech at Benedictine College. (Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
“Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as growing support for degenerate cultural values and media, arise from the omnipresence of disorder,” Butker said in his speech.
“Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-choice rally.
“You have been so vocal in your support for the murder of innocent babies that I am sure it seems to many people that you can be Catholic and pro-choice at the same time. You are not alone. From the man behind the COVID lockdowns “For the people who promote dangerous gender ideologies among young people in the United States, they all have something obvious in common: they are Catholics. “This is an important reminder that being Catholic alone is not enough.”
Butker's speech sparked comments from the media, athletes, the NFL and others.
Numerous Butker's teammates have weighed in with their own opinions on his speech. Travis Kelce acknowledged having different views than his teammate, but credited him for being “a great person and a great teammate.”
“I've known him for over seven years, probably over eight years. And I appreciate him as a teammate,” Kelce said of Butker.
“I think Pat [Mahomes] I said it best: he is a great person and a great teammate. He has treated the friends and family I have introduced him to with nothing but respect and kindness, and that is how he treats everyone.
“When it comes to his views and what he said in the St. Benedictine commencement speech, those are his. I can't say I agree with most or much of it, other than that he loves his family. and his children, and I don't think I should judge him for his views, especially his religious views, on how to live life. That's not who I am.
5. LeBron James
NBA star LeBron James has used his platform to speak out on issues regardless of the backlash he's received for bringing politics into the game.
The Los Angeles Lakers star was the organizer of “More Than A Vote,” a group aimed at stopping voter suppression.
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James has been a strong critic of Trump for many years. In November 2016, LeBron attended and spoke at a rally in Cleveland for Hillary Clinton. He later endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020.
LeBron James has publicly endorsed several Democratic presidential candidates. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
James has also made statements about police brutality and racial injustice.
6. Colin Kaepernick
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem during the 2016 season in an act of protest.
In a recent interview with NPR, Kaepernick expressed his feeling that the NFL still has “a lot of work to do,” when asked if he thought the league had “changed for the better.”
During the 2016 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick knelt during the singing of the national anthem. (Jaime Crawford/Getty Images)
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“I haven't seen any substantial change,” Kaepernick said. “I think there's a lot of work to do on that front. Obviously, not playing and being out of the NFL for six years is a criticism of where they are currently. So I wouldn't put them at the forefront of goodwill and the best intentions in the way they operate.
