WASHINGTON - From Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger to Al Franken and Donald Trump, there's a rich history of celebrities trying out new careers in politics.
The list could soon grow.
In Texas, Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has said he is considering a run for governor. In New York City, Andrew Yang, a businessman who gained fame during his quixotic 2020 presidential run, is a leading contender for the Democratic mayoral nomination. Each has the type of name recognition that other political newcomers would envy. But as they consider running some of the nation's largest and most complicated governments, their lack of experience in public office could be a vulnerability. That's especially true after the tumult of the Trump era.. "I do think it definitely makes it slightly harder," said Daniel Ketchell, who was chief of staff to Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilder-turned-Hollywood star who won a California recall election in 2003 and became a two-term governor. "People will say they don't like celebrity candidates until there's a celebrity candidate they like," he said. "A lot of Democrats hated Donald Trump, but they might be pretty enthralled with Matthew McConaughey. It's still about winning and likability."
Much else is also different this time around. California has grown even more Democratic over the past 20 years, making it harder for a Republican, especially one who openly backed Trump, to gain traction. Schwarzenegger, strategists note, was already well known in the state as a champion of after-school programs, and had a history of civic engagement, having served as chair of President George H.W. Bush's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. It also didn't hurt that he was married to Maria Shriver, a member of the Kennedy family dynasty. Reagan was also well versed in politics before running a campaign of his own by virtue of leading the Screen Actors Guild.
Celebrities-turned-politicians have long recognized the extra work they must do to counteract a dearth of governing experience. When Schwarzenegger ran, aides created what they called "Schwarzenegger University" to get up to speed on issues. Jesse Ventura, the professional wrestler who became Minnesota's governor, surrounded himself with experienced aides. "No question that there was, I think, a preconceived notion that he might have some trouble engaging others to his administration," John Wodele, who served as Ventura's spokesman in office. "However, the actions that he took right after the election to bring people into his administration with experience and knowledge and impeccable reputations quickly dispelled that."