A viral video showing a stage adorned with American flag bunting and signs reading ‘McConaughey for governor’ sent Matthew McConaughey fans into wild speculation he could be seeking public office.
The TikTok clip showed a stage in an Austin field surrounded by Lone Star State flags and what appear to be campaign signs with the actor’s face and name on them.
‘Is the real life, y’all? Is Matthew McConaughey actually running for governor of Texas? This is crazy. This is in Austin right now,’ the woman recording the footage can be heard saying.
On top of the optics, the timing also added fuel to the fire as the state’s current Republican governor Greg Abbott announced he’s running for his fourth term less than a week ago.
Democrat lawmaker Gina Hinojosa launched her own campaign for the governor’s office last month.
McConaughey’s press contact did not immediately respond to Daily Mail’s request for comment, however Parade Magazine reported that the elaborate stage ‘likely part’ of filming for Apple’s series ‘Brothers.’
Excitement about the beloved native Texan running for office isn’t far off, as the Oscar-winner has previously considered running for governor in 2021.
A TikTok video showing what looked like a campaign stage in Austin, Texas with Matthew McConaughey’s face and name created speculation he’s running for office this week
Matthew McConaughey shared stories of the children killed in the massacre, including a drawing from 10-year-old Alithea Ramirez. He said that she wanted to go to art school in Paris to show off her work
McConaughey most recently addressed a possible political career a month ago, telling People Magazine he hasn’t ruled out a run, but now is not the time.
‘It’s something I started looking into probably six years ago and something I’ve continued to study what that arena is, what it would mean, how could I be useful in it, would I be useful in it,’ he told the magazine.
The Academy-award winner has never stated whether he’d run as a Democrat, Republican or Independent.
However, Texas is deep red state and the last Democrat to be elected to state-wide office was former Governor Ann Richards who served from 1990 to 1995.
A Uvalde native, McConaughey was invited to the White House during former Pres. Joe Biden’s administration after a mass shooting in his hometown when 19 children and two teachers were gunned down at Robb Elementary School in May 2022.
In a rare move, the actor was allowed to stand behind the podium during the White House press briefing, where he gave an emotional plea for gun reform, tearing up as he talked about the victims of the massacre.
For now, the actor who lives in Austin is often a fixture at University of Texas at Austin football games told People his focus is on raising his kids: Levi, 17; Vida, 15; and Livingston, 12.
Actor Matthew McConaughey grew emotional as he talked about the victims of the massacre, pausing at times to regain his composure and wipe his eyes. ‘We got to get some real courage and honor our mortal obligations instead of our party affiliations and enough with the counterpunching,’ he said. ‘We can’t truly be leaders if we’re only live in for reelection’
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, just announced he will seek re-election on Sunday. If he wins, it would be his fourth term as the state’s leader
For his part, the Hollywood hunk was also shared his own social media post on Tuesday, honoring his family instead of mentioning his birthday
‘So let me do what I can with Camila to get these three kids out of the house as healthy individuals, as much as I can make that possible,” McConaughey told the publication last month.
‘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.
‘Because if I did that now, I wouldn’t be able to be the father and spend the time with the family the way that I have so far and it’s something I’m not ready to sacrifice.’
