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

1 of 12

Shirley Temple

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Clay Aiken

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.

3 of 12

Sonny Bono

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.

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 12

Roseanne Barr

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.

Advertisement

5 of 12

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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.

6 of 12

Jesse Ventura

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. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 12

Ronald Reagan

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 12

Donald Trump

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.

Advertisement

9 of 12

Howard Stern

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 12

Al Franken

Gabriella Demczuk/Getty Images

Senator Al Franken got his start on Saturday Night Live, years before he landed a gig representing the state of Minnesota in 2008.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 12

Clint Eastwood

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. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Popular in News

All Topics in News

Advertisement
EDIT POST