Matthew McConaughey Considering Running for Politics Again, Governor Says

Actor Matthew McConaughey continued to discuss the possibility of entering the political arena in front of a room full of governors. He joked that he had shared his brand of tequila with one governor the night before and that another had advised him to be himself if he ever decided to run.

It’s unclear whether the “Dazed and Confused,” “A Time to Kill” and “True Detective” star will run as a Democrat or Republican, and for which office. McConaughey has kept his political beliefs ambiguous and didn’t reveal much at the National Governors Association meeting.

“I’ve been on a learning tour for probably six years,” McConaughey told New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy when asked about his plans. “Do I have the instincts and the intelligence to adapt to this new role? You know, will I be useful?”

He mentioned that he learned a lot from the annual summer governors meeting. “I learned a lot from you last night from that tequila, sir,” he joked with Murphy, who mentioned drinking McConaughey’s tequila with him.

McConaughey participated in a roundtable discussion with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, to discuss ways to promote civility in politics.

Cox, the affable governor of Utah, has launched a campaign called “Disagree Better” to counter the government’s aggressive rhetoric and combativeness. The move has caught the attention of McConaughey, who has also called on American leaders to show more respect.

The trio discussed the need for politicians to capture attention and clicks online, which leads to extreme rhetoric. McConaughey noted that extreme polarization has also permeated Hollywood.

“My industry has to be careful what it says right off the bat because it comes from the left. We have to open up that debate with our opening statements and not write off a moderate or a conservative right off the bat, which is something we’re guilty of doing to some extent,” McConaughey said, referring to actors and directors who express their political views.

In 2022, McConaughey hinted at a possible run for governor of his home state of Texas. He has been vocal about gun control, urging Congress after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting to pass legislation that would strengthen background checks for gun purchases and raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 rifle from 18 to 21.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat, encouraged McConaughey to consider running and offered some advice. “Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to be one thing,” Green said. “A lot of Republicans are going to want you to be a Republican, and a lot of Democrats are going to want you to be a Democrat. Just be yourself, because that could be something special for all of us.”