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![Clay Aiken]()
Former “American Idol” finalist Clay Aiken announced his bid to unseat second-term Rep. Renee Ellmers, in North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district. "For most Americans, there are no golden tickets," Aiken said in a video he posted online. "At least not like the kind you see on TV. More families are struggling today than at any time in our history. And here in North Carolina, we've suffered more than our share of pain." He lost.![Donald Trump]()
The real estate mogul and former host of "The Apprentice" is running for president.![Ben Stein]()
Who can forget Stein's role as the teacher in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off?" "Class? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone seen this before?" he asked. Before his role in the popular 1986 flick, Stein was a speech writer for President Nixon and later for President Ford. Stein has continued to be active in political life.![Shirley Temple Black]()
After serving as America's favorite child star, Shirley became a U.S. diplomat, Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and Chief of Protocol of the United States. (But not all at once.)![Arnold Schwarzenegger]()
Arnold parlayed his muscle-bound action star image into a sweet political gig as governor of Caleeforneeya from 2003 to 2011.![Sonny Bono]()
The late star gained fame in the '60s singing with Cher, and then went on to serve California's 44th district as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1998. Bono was also mayor of Palm Springs, Calif., for four years.![Alan Autry]()
What hasn't Alan Autry done? The Green Bay Packers quarterback turned actor (best known for his role in TV series "In the Heat of the Night") tried his hand at politics in 2000 as mayor of Fresno, California.![Sean Duffy]()
For this reality TV personality, a life in politics wasn't just a dream. The "Real World: Boston" star won an open seat in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional district in 2010, defeating state senator Julie Lassa. The republican was re-elected in 2012. His wife, Rachel Campos is also a "Real World" alum, from the house in San Francisco. The couple has eight kids.![Chris Dudley]()
The former NBA Trail Blazers center tried his hands at politics in the 2010 election, running for governor of Oregon. Unfortunately for him, he lost to Democrat John Kitzhaber, who was elected for a third term, in an extremely tight race.![Wyclef Jean]()
Best known as a member of The Fugees, the Haitian-born singer attempted to run for president of Haiti in 2010. But the earthquake-ravaged nation put a stop to his plans when he was disqualified for not legally being a Haiti resident.![Ben Jones]()
He's known as Cooter the car mechanic from "The Dukes of Hazard," but Jones, top right with his co-stars, also served two terms as a Georgia congressman from 1989 to 1993. "I awoke naked in a tattoo parlor in Talladega, Alabama. I knew it was time to change my lifestyle. So I went into politics," he has said.![Al Franken]()
The former "Saturday Night Live" star has been serving as a U.S. Senator (D, Minnesota) since 2009.![Ronald Reagan]()
After a career as a "B-film" actor for Warner Bros. studios in the '30s and '40s, Reagan served as Governor of California and then President of the United States.![Clint Eastwood]()
The Oscar-winning actor/director served one term as mayor of Carmel, Calif., in 1986. In a rare move, Clint went back to showbiz.![Fred Thompson]()
The actor ("Law & Order," anyone?) served as a Republican Senator in Tennessee from 1994 to 2003. In 2007, he ran for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination (and failed). He died in 2015.![Glenda Jackson]()
The Oscar-winning actress has been a Member of Parliament in the U.K. from 1992-2015.![Jerry Springer]()
Jer-ry! Jer-ry! Jer-ry! Springer was actually a politician (Mayor of Cincinnati, to be exact) before he landed his talk show gig.![Ruben Blades]()
Famous salsa singer Rubén was Panama's Tourism Minister from 2004-2009.![Jesse Ventura]()
The former professional wrestler served as governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003.![Fred Grandy]()
The former star of "The Love Boat" was a congressman in Iowa from 1987 to 1995. How random!Celebrities turned politicians
These stars went from entertaining fans to courting constituents.
Move Forward
- Celebrities turned politicians
