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Historian Gary Gerstle will discuss the rise and Fall of “Reaganomics” 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 14, as part of the public series Cairns & Beacons: Finding Our Way in a Post-Pandemic
By Nik Rajkovic
May 11, 2021
Matthew McConaughey and Caitlyn Jenner may be the first in what could quickly become a growing list of celebrities seeking public office in the wake of President Donald Trump.
Trump was not the first celebrity to jump into politics, nor was he the first in the White House. From Ronald Reagan to Arnold Schwarzenegger, to football s Steve Largent and others, the list of celebrities seeking public office goes back decades.
“Sonny Bono was a congressman from California for a while. Jesse Ventura was governor of Minnesota. The list goes on and on. That being said, they have varied widely in their level of effectiveness and their level of political seriousness,” says Matthew Wilson, political science professor at Southern Methodist University.
Celebrity politicians test voter interest
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 By JILL COLVIN, Associated Press
Published: May 7, 2021, 6:00am
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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 California, former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner is running for governor. 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.
Celebrity politicians test voter interest in post-Trump era
By Jill Colvin - Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) 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 California, former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner is running for governor. 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, when the reality television star-turned-president often spent mor