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  3. 11 Celebrities Who Ran for Political Office

11 Celebrities Who Ran for Political Office

See famous faces who campaigned for your vote
By Madeline Boardman April 18, 2017 at 08:30 AM EDT
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Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple Black
Credit: John Bulmer/Getty Images

Decades after she first hit the big screen as a child star, Shirley Temple made a run for the ballot box. The actress ran in the special election for California's 11th congressional district in 1967, falling to eventual winner Rep. Pete McCloskey.

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Clay Aiken

Congressional Candidate Clay Aiken Casts His Vote In The Midterm Elections
Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Fans first met Clay Aiken in 2003, when the pop hopeful competed on the second season of American Idol. The singer went on to release a few studio albums before trying his hand at politics, running for the House of Representatives in 2014 for North Carolina's 2nd congressional district. While he won the democratic primary, the former reality star lost the general election to republican Renee Ellmers.

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Sonny Bono

Freshman congressman Sonny Bono, R-CA, waves to th
Credit: J. DAVID AKE/AFP/Getty Images

Sonny Bono successfully made the jump from music to politics. The Sonny & Cher performer became the mayor of Palm Springs, Calif. in 1982, and went on to serve as the U.S. Representative for California's 44th district from 1995 to 1998.

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Roseanne Barr

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Credit: Jayme Roy

Roseanne Barr's choice to run for president in 2012 made it all the way to the Green National Convention. The actress was edged out for the Green Party's presidential nomination by Jill Stein, who ran for the party in the general election.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger

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More than 25 years after he won a Golden Globe for his turn in Stay Hungry, Arnold Schwarzenegger won an election. The actor and body builder was named Governor of California in 2003, following his candidacy in the state's recall election.

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Jesse Ventura

Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura testifies before
Credit: JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP/Getty Images

Jesse Ventura made it from the wrestling ring to the Governor's Residence. The former WWE star won his first election in 1990, becoming the mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minn., and went on to be named Governor of Minnesota in 1998.

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Ronald Reagan

President Ronald Reagan at Durenberger Republican convention Rally, 1982
Credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images

Long before he was the 40th President of the United States or even the 33rd Governor of California, Ronald Reagan was an actor appearing in movies like Dark Victory, Santa Fe Trail, and Kings Row.

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Donald Trump

Republican National Convention: Day Four
Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Donald Trump stepped into the Oval Office as the 45th President of the United States in January 2017, but just two years earlier, the reality star was serving as the host of The Apprentice, also previously earning acting credits with appearances in Zoolander, Two Weeks Notice, and an episode of Sex and the City.

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Howard Stern

Howard Stern announcing his plans to run for governor of New
Credit: David Handschuh/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Howard Stern's candidacy for Governor of New York was derailed in 1994, when the then-Libertarian candidate took issue with the state's financial disclosure laws. The talk show host ended up pulling out of the election, which republican candidate George Pataki eventually won.

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Al Franken

Senate Democrats Unveil New #WeThePeople Legislative Package
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Senator Al Franken got his start on Saturday Night Live, years before he landed a gig representing the state of Minnesota in 2008.

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Clint Eastwood

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Credit: Robert Fish/AP

With dozens of acting credits to his name, Clint Eastwood won the election for mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. in 1986.

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    1 of 11 Shirley Temple
    2 of 11 Clay Aiken
    3 of 11 Sonny Bono
    4 of 11 Roseanne Barr
    5 of 11 Arnold Schwarzenegger
    6 of 11 Jesse Ventura
    7 of 11 Ronald Reagan
    8 of 11 Donald Trump
    9 of 11 Howard Stern
    10 of 11 Al Franken
    11 of 11 Clint Eastwood

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