5 Famous and Infamous Celebrities Who Tried to Trade In Tinseltown Stardom for Political Run-ins

Where fans are often termed supporters and movie promotions as campaigning, one cannot blame celebrities for looking at the nation’s problems and thinking that if they can move records and movie tickets, they can surely change the world. The trade of limelight for the halls of power has attracted celebrities like a moth to a beam, but only a few of these Tinseltown celebrity political run-ins are known.

As Donald Trump and Kamala Harris backed by equally strong celebrity support fight nail and teeth in the US Presidential Elections 2024, here is a list of celebrities that transcended into politics for better or for worse.

Ye

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has undoubtedly had one of the most popular foray into politics for a list of reasons that can only be termed as bizarre. While the rapper’s political opinions have always managed to ruffle feathers, in 2016, “Kanye West for President” became a slogan that provided a respite in an intense political climate.

Although sidelined as a laughingstock then, Ye came back in 2020 with a serious election campaign and entered as a candidate last minute, and earned 60,000 votes after spending a whopping $6 Million on his campaign.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

While Ye’s political chapter, depending on how you view it may be a hit or a miss, Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s political tenure is truly one written with a golden ink. An Austrian bodybuilder who gained citizenship went on to govern the prime land, California.

The actor turned Governor served two terms from 2003 to 2011 and while the entirety of it was not all that smooth, Arnold Schwarzenegger still remains the blueprint for anyone moving from Tinseltown to politics.

Caitlyn Jenner

Whisk through some of the most prominent fields and you will find that Caitlyn Jenner remains an impactful name. While this was restricted to only sports and Hollywood before, Caitlyn Jenner took the leap into politics in 2021 by running for governor of California in a recall election against incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom.

The reality TV star had relatively conservative policies regarding taxes, government spending, and crime. However, despite the attention she stirred, Jenner could not garner many votes.

Ronald Reagan

One of the most Tinseltown-esque stories that became a reality was that of Ronald Regan, who subsequently turned the tables and broke the glass ceiling with his foray into politics. An outspoken democrat when he was a Hollywood stud, Ronald Reagan presented quite the mind-blowing plot twist with his iconic speech titled A Time for Choosing, which highlighted his beliefs in small government, individual freedom, and anti-communism, making him quite the republican favorite.

After his reign as the governor of California, Reagan was elected as the 40th President of the United States in 1980, serving two terms from 1981 to 1989, and now is remembered among the best ones.

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon, best known for her role as Miranda Hobbes on Sex and the City, ventured into politics in 2018 when she ran for governor of New York, challenging incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

While she ended up losing, Nixon’s policies did open the gates for a wider discussion about politics amongst progressive New Yorkers. Moreover, the loss was only a gain for Cynthia Nixon who continues to advocate causes she believes in, even now. 

Did you know about these celebrities’ political careers? Let us know in the comments below.