Matthew McConaughey could be in with a chance of becoming Governor of Texas – that is, of course, if he decided to run for the prestigious position.
Even though McConaughey’s name is not on any ballot, a survey found voters looked upon the Oscar-winning actor favorably.
McConaughey has teased political pundits and TV talk show hosts that he might enter politics in his home state.
Oscar-winning Texan Matthew McConaughey could win should he run for Governor of Texas in a race against incumbent Greg Abbott
A recently released poll from the University of Texas found showed 45% of voters would support McConaughey over Abbott if the actor decided to run for
The poll was conducted by University of Texas-Tyler and the Dallas Morning News
And the odds are pretty good for the Dallas Buyers Club actor. Out of more than 1,000 registered voters, 45 percent said they would vote for him if given the chance.
The odds were good particularly when compared to the incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott with just 33% promising the Governor their vote, according to a new poll conducted by The Dallas Morning News and The University of Texas Tyler.
When looking at individual parties, only 30% said they’d vote for McConaughey with 56% opting for Abbott.
In Democrat circles he commands a far more certain majority with 66% liking the sound of a Governor McConaughey.
McConaughey has openly talked of the possibility of running but always deferred saying ‘it would be up to the people’ on whether he’d run.
Politically speaking, McConaughey, who hails from Uvalde, Texas, west of San Antonio, has kept his leanings pretty close to his chest.
He has never said either way whether he would run as a Republican or a Democrat.
‘I’m not teasing the idea — I’m actually looking at the idea and giving it serious consideration,’ McConaughey told CNBC.
‘I have a new chapter for myself, personally in my life. I believe it is in some sort of leadership role. I don’t know what that role is. I don’t know my category. We’ve been talking about the ‘why’ of leadership and even, I would say, we need some more good leaders.
McConaughey has teased a political run in his home state for several months, but so far hasn’t officially committed
‘We’ve gotten to this spot where, ‘You voice your opinion and it opposes mine. My gut reaction — our gut reaction — is ‘Oh, you must be saying that at the exclusion of mine’… If I say I’m a believer, someone will say ‘Oh, you must not believe in science.’ Well, I didn’t say that, I’m a believer and I believe in science…two different opinions can exist at the same time,’ he said in a March interview.
In the past, McConaughey has said the ‘left’ of the U.S. can go too far in their approach, but he has also spoken out against the far-right saying they can be just as extreme.
‘Matthew McConaughey gets a huge boost from tremendous name recognition and recognition for what he does to help Texans and add to the celebration of the state’s successes,’ UT-Tyler political scientist Mark Owens, who directed the poll said.
‘Most of our survey respondents know his story, but many are waiting to see how he opens his next chapter.’
One voter told the news that McConaughey reminds him of former President Trump in the fact he is a political outsider.
Austrian-born actor and retired bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011. He is pictured here in 2020
Ronald Reagan was also a Hollywood actor and union leader before serving as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975. He is pictured with First Lady Nancy Reagan in 1984
‘He’s popular, he’s colorful, and he’s not afraid to tell it like it is,’ said Mark Harp, 47, who works in construction.
‘He has some of the same qualities of Donald Trump, and that will play well in Texas.’
If McConaughey did secure the governorship, he wouldn’t be the first film star to delve into politics.
Austrian-born actor and retired bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011.
And prior to his presidency, Ronald Reagan was also a Hollywood actor and union leader before serving as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975.