Matthew McConaughey decides not to run for governor of Texas
Actor Matthew McConaughey said Sunday that he will not be running for governor of Texas.
>> PHOTOS: Matthew McConaughey through the years
The 52-year-old Oscar winner announced on his Twitter and Instagram accounts that an elected office was a “path that I’m choosing not to take at this moment.”
“I’ve been considering a run for the governor of Texas. I’ve been listening, I’ve been learning, and I’ve been measuring and learning,” McConaughey said in his video. “Been studying Texas politics and American politics.
“What have I learned? A lot. That we have some problems we need to fix,” McConaughey added. “That our politics needs new purpose. That we have divides that need healing.”
The actor said he would “continue to work and invest the bounty I have by supporting entrepreneurs, businesses and foundations that I’ve believe are leaders, establishments that I believe are creating pathways for people to succeed in life, organizations that have a mission to serve and build trust while also generating prosperity. That’s the American dream.”
In a Dallas Morning News poll this week, McConaughey was projected to defeat Republican incumbent Greg Abbott by eight points and easily beat Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke by a 2-to-1 margin. But McConaughey, who was facing a state-mandated deadline of Dec. 13 to enter the race, chose to remain on the sidelines, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The poll, which was conducted Nov. 9-16, surveyed 1,106 adults who are registered voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, according to the Morning News.
“As a simple kid born in the little town of Uvalde, Texas, it never occurred to me that I would one day be considered for political leadership. It’s a humbling and inspiring path to ponder,” McConaughey said in his video. “It is also a path that I’m choosing not to take at this moment.”
Here are some memorable photos of actor Matthew McConaughey through the years.
1996: Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey star in the drama "A Time to Kill" in 1996.
1997: Mathew Mcconaughey with Jodie Foster as Ellie Arroway in "Contact" based on the bestseller by Carl Sagan.
1998: Matthew McConaughey is shown in this 1998 file photo.
2000: Actor Matthew McConaughey arrives for the premiere of the film "What Women Want" on December 13, 2000, in Los Angeles.
2001: Actors Matthew McConaughey and Salli Richardson arrive at the premiere of Columbia Pictures’ "The Wedding Planner" on January 23, 2001, at Loews Century Plaza Theatre in Century City, California.
2002: Actress/director Jodie Foster with actor Matthew McConaughey, who presented Foster with the Hollywood Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award, at the Hollywood Film Festival’s Gala Ceremony and Hollywood Movie Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 7, 2002, in Beverly Hills, California.
2003: Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey arrive at the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on January 19, 2003.
2005: Actress Penelope Cruz and co-star actor Matthew McConaughey arrive for the Spanish premiere of their film "Sahara" at the Palacio de la Musica Cinema on April 13, 2005, in Madrid.
2006: Actors Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew McConaughey and Zooey Deschanel attend the premiere of "Failure To Launch" at Clearview Chelsea West March 8, 2006, in New York City.
2007: Actor Matthew McConaughey watches the bout between Rey Bautista of the Philippines and Sergio Medina of Argentina during their WBO junior featherweight title eliminator fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 5, 2007, in Las Vegas.
2008: Actors Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey pose in the press room during the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2008, in Los Angeles.
2009: Actor Matthew McConaughey celebrates after the Texas Longhorns defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Game on January 5, 2009, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
2010: Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey of USA gestures during the Mission Hills Star Trophy at Blackstone Course, Mission Hill Hainan on October 28, 2010, in Haikou, China.
2011: Model Camila Alves and actor Matthew McConaughey arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar party hosted by Graydon Carter held at Sunset Tower on February 27, 2011, in West Hollywood, California.
2012: Actor Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves depart the "Mud" premiere during the 65th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 26, 2012, in Cannes, France.
2013: Actor Matthew McConaughey arrives at the "Dallas Buyers Club" premiere during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 7, 2013, in Toronto.
2014: Actor Matthew McConaughey accepts the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role award for "Dallas Buyers Club" onstage during the 20th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 18, 2014, in Los Angeles.
2015: Actor Matthew McConaughey and model Camila Alves attend the 21st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2015, in Los Angeles.
2016: Actor Matthew McConaughey and model Camila Alves attend the "Sing" premiere during the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 11, 2016, in Toronto.
2017: Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba attend "The Dark Tower" New York premiere on July 31, 2017, in New York City.
2018: Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey attendhe 90th annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018, in Hollywood, California.
2019: Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway attend the photo call for Aviron Pictures "Serenity" at Ritz Carlton Hotel on January 11, 2019, in Marina del Rey, California.
2020: Matthew McConaughey speaks onstage during HISTORYTalks Leadership & Legacy presented by HISTORY at Carnegie Hall on February 29, 2020, in New York City.
2021: Matthew McConaughey performs before the start of the inaugural home game between the San Jose Earthquakes and Austin FC at Q2 Stadium on June 19, 2021, in Austin, Texas.
