Speculation that Hollywood A-lister Matthew McConaughey is preparing a run for political office went into overdrive this week, after a viral video appeared to show a campaign stage set up in his name.
The Viral Clip That Started It All
A TikTok clip, which quickly spread across social media, showed a stage in an Austin field adorned with American flag bunting and surrounded by Lone Star State flags. The footage prominently featured signs reading 'McConaughey for governor', sending the actor's fans into a spin. The woman recording the video could be heard exclaiming, 'Is this real life, y'all? Is Matthew McConaughey actually running for governor of Texas? This is crazy. This is in Austin right now.'
The timing of the video added significant fuel to the fire, as it emerged less than a week after the state's current Republican governor, Greg Abbott, announced he is running for a fourth term. Democrat lawmaker Gina Hinojosa had also launched her own campaign the previous month, making the political landscape ripe for speculation.
Fact or Fiction? The Truth Behind the Stage
However, the excitement was short-lived. While McConaughey's press contact did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Parade Magazine reported that the elaborate stage was 'likely part' of filming for Apple's series 'Brothers'.
This is not the first time the Oscar-winner has been at the centre of political rumours. He seriously considered running for governor in 2021. Just a month ago, he told People Magazine that while he hasn't ruled out a future run, now is not the time. 'It's something I started looking into probably six years ago and something I've continued to study,' he explained, questioning what the role would mean and how he could be useful.
McConaughey's Political Leanings and Priorities
Intriguingly, the Academy Award-winner has never publicly stated whether he would run as a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. This is a significant consideration in Texas, a deep red state where the last Democrat elected to a statewide office was former Governor Ann Richards, who served from 1990 to 1995.
A Uvalde native, McConaughey has previously stepped into the political arena in a different capacity. Following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in his hometown in May 2022, he was invited to the White House. In a rare and emotional move, he was allowed to stand behind the podium during a press briefing, where he made a heartfelt plea for gun reform, tearing up as he honoured the victims.
For now, however, the actor's focus remains firmly on his family. He told People that his priority is raising his three children: Levi, 17; Vida, 15; and Livingston, 12. 'So let me do what I can... to get these three kids out of the house as healthy individuals,' McConaughey stated. 'And then opportunities or choices I can make — I'll be much more free to make choices that won't have the same consequences they may have now.' He emphasised that a political run is 'something I'm not ready to sacrifice' his current family time for.
