15 celebrities who got political in 2018

1. Cynthia Nixon

For all that these celebrities talked about politics, donated income, or lent their support to various political causes, few actually ran for office. Cynthia Nixon, actress and former co-star of Sex in the City, is one of the few celebs who’ve taken on a political calling.

The history of celebrities actually running for political office is mixed, to say the least. Some went on to have successful political careers, including President Ronald Reagan, who began his professional life as a California actor. Others, like Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger and former wrestler Jesse Ventura, became state governors. While they may not have enjoyed extensive popularity, given the divisive nature of politics, they at least won their respective elections and successfully completed their terms in office.

Others, however, aren’t half as rosy. Former Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) left office in the midst of a sexual harassment scandal. Then take current President of the United States Donald Trump who is in all respects the most unpopular politician and could have his hand in potentially impeachment-worthy matters like campaign finance violations or even collusion with foreign agents.

While you may take different lessons from these examples compared to another reader, we must at least be able to agree to simply being a celebrity doesn’t make one immediately suited for political office. Right?

Anyway, Cynthia Nixon seemed very sincere about her run for governor of New York. And, judging from the publicity and support she received after announcing her candidacy, Nixon had a chance of making it through to election night. Turns out that Andrew Cuomo, the incumbent governor, beat her pretty easily in the primary.

Still, the visibility and audacity of her candidacy, combined with her apparently sincere beliefs, made Nixon one of the most political celebrities in 2018.