Actor聽Matthew McConaughey聽announced Sunday that he will not be running for Texas Governor in the upcoming聽gubernatorial race following months of speculation.
In a video posted to Twitter on Sunday,聽McConaughey, 52, acknowledged that he had explored politics and聽considered a run for the governor of Texas but that ultimately, he’s decided to focus his efforts in the private sector instead.
“I鈥檝e been listening, I鈥檝e been learning, I鈥檝e been measuring. I鈥檝e been studying Texas politics and American politics,”聽McConaughey said. “What have I learned? A lot. That we have some problems we need to fix. That our politics need a new purpose. That we have divides that need healing, that we need more trust in our lives.”
“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 is a humbling and inspiring path to ponder. It is also a path that I’m choosing not to take at this moment,” the actor said.
McConaughey said that he would instead be focusing his attention on the private sector, and will “invest the bounty I have to support the entrepreneurs, businesses, and foundations that I 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,” he explained, adding, “That’s the American dream.”
According to a聽poll聽by the Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas Tyler last week,聽McConaughey was the preferred candidate among voters over聽both聽Republican Gov. Greg Abbot and Democratic challenger Beto O鈥橰ourke.
actor聽said in March that he was seriously considering a run for governor in his home state, noting that he would聽adopt an “aggressively centric” approach if he were to run.
“I would say, as far as running, I鈥檓 not until I am. So my decision hasn鈥檛 changed, because I鈥檓 still not. Am I giving it honest consideration? Yeah,” the actor聽told聽the Austin American-Statesman in March. “I鈥檇 be a fool not to. And it鈥檚 an honorable consideration. I still have to answer the same question for myself and my family. Honestly, is that the truest and best category for me to be most useful? I鈥檓 ready to step into a leadership position in this next chapter of my life, but I don鈥檛 know that that鈥檚 in politics.”
At the time, Abbot, who is up for a third term and has already secured the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, said he was taking McConaughey “very seriously”聽as a potential challenger in the 2022 election.
Meanwhile, O鈥橰ourke鈥攚ho announced his campaign for Texas governor earlier this month鈥攈as declined to say if he wants President Joe Biden to campaign for him.
It comes amid reports of growing tensions in the West Wing and聽may signal broader concerns among聽Democrats that associating with the president could backfire on their chances to secure key positions in 2022.
When asked in a聽CNN interview聽if he would welcome Biden to travel to Texas and campaign with him, O鈥橰ourke聽sidestepped a direct answer, saying his聽campaign is “not going to be about anyone from outside of our state.”
When asked the question again,聽O鈥橰ourke reiterated that his campaign would remain focused on Texas and not聽national politics.
“This campaign in Texas is not going to be about Joe Biden. It鈥檚 not going to be about Donald Trump. It鈥檚 not going to be about anyone from outside of our state. This is going to be about the people of Texas and what the people of Texas want,” O鈥橰ourke said.
When asked a final time if that means he would not want the president to join him in his campaign,聽O鈥橰ourke explained, “It means that I鈥檓 focused on Texas and on my fellow Texans. Those are the people most important to me. re鈥檚 no politician, there鈥檚 no other person from outside of this state who can help to change the course of this election, for better or for worse.”
Pezou : Matthew McConaughey Says He Won鈥檛 Run for Texas Governor