24 celebrities and media figures who ran for political office

It is not uncommon that public figures, particularly in entertainment and media, try to enter public service, whether it be for mayor, for Congress or even for president. 

With the 2024 election just around the corner, here are 24 celebrities and media figures who have run, or are currently running, for political office.

Clay Aiken 

Clay Aiken, the singer best known as the runner-up contestant on the second season of "American Idol," threw his hat in the political ring in two unsuccessful congressional bids. The first was in 2014 when he clinched the Democratic nomination in North Carolina's 2nd district and was later defeated by then incumbent Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers. The second was in 2022 in the Democratic primary in North Carolina's 4th district, where he came in third place behind state lawmaker Valerie Foushee, who went on to be elected in the general. 

John Avlon

John Avlon, the former editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast who went on to be a CNN political analyst, left CNN in February to launch a congressional bid in New York's 1st district to unseat Republican Rep. Nick LaLota. Avlon is running as a Democrat and is hoping to clinch his party's nomination in the June 25 primary. 

Roseanne Barr 

Comedian and actress Roseanne Barr, best known for her hit ABC sitcom "Roseanne," ran for president in 2012 as a Green Party candidate, losing the nomination to Jill Stein, who is currently running in the upcoming 2024 election as the Green Party candidate. 

Sonny Bono

Sonny Bono, singer and songwriter of the famous musical duo Sonny & Cher, first ran for U.S. Senate in California in 1992, but was defeated in the Republican primary. Two years later, he launched a successful congressional bid in California's 44th district and was reelected in 1996. Bono served in Congress until his death in 1998. 

Bill Cotter

Barstool Sports personality Bill Cotter, known by fans as "Billy Football," recently launched a congressional bid in New York's 3rd district as a Republican and will be competing in the June 25 primary. At 25 years old, Cotter is hoping to be one of the youngest members of Congress to be elected.

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Clint Eastwood

Oscar-winning director and actor Clint Eastwood may be known to millions as "Dirty Harry," but many might not know him for perhaps his most prominent role: mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Eastwood was elected in 1986 and served a 2-year term in the small Monterey-area town. He later was appointed by California Gov. Gray Davis in 2001 to serve on the California State Park and Recreation Commission. 

Larry Elder

Conservative radio host Larry Elder first entered politics in 2021 as a candidate in the recall effort against California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, which Newsom successfully overcame. Last year, Elder launched a 2024 presidential bid in the Republican primary, but ultimately suspended his campaign and endorsed former President Trump.

Al Franken

Al Franken, the comedian and radio host known as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live," famously unseated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race by just 225 votes. He went on to serve as a Democratic senator until he resigned in 2018 after he faced mounting sexual misconduct allegations. 

Hill Harper

Hill Harper has nearly 100 IMDB credits that range from "Married… With Children," "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," "The Sopranos" to "Homeland," but is better known for his roles in "CSI: NY," "Limitless" and "The Good Doctor." The next role he is aiming for is Michigan's next U.S. senator, launching his bid as a Democrat in July 2023 hoping to fill the seat of outgoing Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. He will face off in the August 6 Democratic primary against Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

Caitlyn Jenner

Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner entered the crowded field in the 2021 California recall effort against Gov. Gavin Newsom, who successfully fended off the challenge.

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Ben Jones

Ben Jones, the actor best known as Cooter Davenport in the hit TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard," first ran for Congress as a Democrat in Georgia's 4th congressional seat in 1986, resulting in a narrow defeat against Republican incumbent Pat Swindall. Jones later defeated a scandal-plagued Swindall in a 1988 rematch and won reelection in 1990. Following losing his seat due to redistricting, he ran against Newt Gingrich in 1994 and lost. Jones went on to launch a congressional bid as a Democrat in Virginia against GOP incumbent Eric Cantor in 2002, but was defeated. 

Kari Lake

Kari Lake was a longtime news anchor for KSAZ-TV in Phoenix before launching her bid as a Republican in Arizona's gubernatorial race in 2022, but was narrowly defeated by her Democratic rival Katie Hobbs. Lake is now running for U.S. Senate, hoping to flip Arizona's seat red following the departure of outgoing Democrat-turned-Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Lake is the heavy favorite in the crowded GOP field that will compete in the July 30 primary and is expected to face off against Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego in November.

Cynthia Nixon

Emmy-winning actress Cynthia Nixon, best known as Miranda Hobbes in the "Sex and the City" franchise, turned her political activism into a political campaign when she launched a Democratic primary challenge against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2018. She was ultimately defeated by Cuomo by a 34-66 point margin. 

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Celebrity doctor and TV host Mehmet Oz made a splash in the 2022 midterms by entering a crowded GOP primary in Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate race. With the help of Trump's endorsement, Oz clinched the Republican nomination but was defeated by his Democratic challenger, John Fetterman. 

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan had a successful acting career spanning three decades and served twice as the president of the Screen Actors Guild. But he famously sought even higher office, first being elected California's governor in 1966 as a Republican and serving two terms before being elected President of the United States in 1980, going on to serve two terms in the Oval Office until 1989. 

Ben Savage

Ben Savage entered the limelight at a very young age starring as Cory Matthews in the popular 90s sitcom "Boy Meets World." He got his first taste of politics in college as an intern for Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter in 2003, but didn't officially enter politics until 2022 when running in an unsuccessful bid for West Hollywood City Council. He went on to launch a congressional bid in California's 30th district, hoping to take the torch from Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who is likely to win his current bid for Senate. Savage was ultimately defeated in the Democratic primary by California assemblywoman Laura Friedman. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Austrian-born bodybuilder-turned-actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of Hollywood's most successful action stars in movie history, landing lead roles in "Conan the Barbarian," "Predator" and the "Terminator" franchise. Schwarzenegger followed in Reagan's footsteps and became a Republican governor of California, but through the state's 2003 recall election and went on to serve until 2011. 

Jerry Springer

The world best knows the late Jerry Springer as a television icon, but before his cultural takeover in the 1990s, Springer was quite active in politics, serving as the mayor of Cincinnati from 1977-1978 and on the city council on and off from 1971-1981. He also ran for Congress in 1970 and for Ohio governor in 1982 as a Democrat, both unsuccessfully.

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Shirley Temple

The late Shirley Temple was one of Hollywood's first child stars but found her second act as an adult in the world of politics. She ran unsuccessfully in a special election in California's 11th congressional district in 1967 as a Republican but went on to serve in multiple Republican administrations, most notably as the U.S. ambassador to Ghana and later the territory formerly known as Czechoslovakia. 

Fred Thompson

The acting career of the late Fred Thompson spans three decades, known most memorably for his roles in "The Hunt for Red October," "Die Hard 2" and his recurring appearances in the "Law & Order" franchise. But in between was also a robust political career that began in 1994 when he was first elected senator from Tennessee and served until 2003. He also ran for president in 2008 in the Republican primary, losing to his former Senate colleague John McCain. 

Donald Trump

Donald Trump was far more than a New York real estate mogul, maintaining his status as a cultural icon with his cameo appearances in several TV shows and films. His fame reached even bigger heights as the host of NBC's "The Apprentice" for 14 seasons. But he shocked the world when he launched his 2016 campaign, clinched the Republican nomination and defeated Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. After being defeated by President Biden in 2020, Trump easily bested his rivals in the GOP primary and will face off against Biden in a 2024 rematch in November. 

Jesse Ventura

Professional wrestler and actor Jesse Ventura had a successful stint in politics, first becoming mayor of Minnesota's Brooklyn Park from 1991-1995 and later becoming the state's governor from 1999-2003. Ventura notably ran as a candidate of the Reform Party, marking one of the political party's greatest achievements.

Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker is widely seen as a hero in Georgia after winning the Heisman Trophy as a running back at the University of Georgia and went on to play in the NFL for 12 seasons. He was recruited by Republicans to enter Georgia's Senate race in the 2022 midterms to face off against Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock. Walker was narrowly defeated in a runoff election by a roughly 49-51 point margin. 

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Ye, formerly known as Kanye West

Ye, the music superstar formerly known as Kanye West, has made headlines over his politics for years, from claiming President George W. Bush "doesn't care about Black people" in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, to visiting President Trump in the Oval Office in 2018 donning a "Make America Great Again" hat. In 2020, he launched an independent presidential bid in what he called the "Birthday Party" but only made it on the ballot in 12 states, earning roughly 70,000 votes total. While he has teased another presidential bid in 2024, Ye was engulfed in controversy in recent years for a series of antisemitic statements. He issued an apology in December.