Actress Melissa Gilbert, who rose to fame playing Laura Ingalls Wilder on "Little House on the Prairie," announced she is running for Congress on August 10, 2015. Gilbert, a Democrat, looks to unseat freshman Republican Rep. Mike Bishop of Michigan's 8th District.
Actress Melissa Gilbert, who rose to fame playing Laura Ingalls Wilder on "Little House on the Prairie," announced she is running for Congress on August 10, 2015. Gilbert, a Democrat, looks to unseat freshman Republican Rep. Mike Bishop of Michigan's 8th District.
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Actor Steven Michael Quezada announced July 21 via Facebook that he is running as a Democrat for the Bernalillo County Commission Seat in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Quezada touts his service on the public schools board and as a community activist.
Actor Steven Michael Quezada announced July 21 via Facebook that he is running as a Democrat for the Bernalillo County Commission Seat in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Quezada touts his service on the public schools board and as a community activist.
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Singer Clay Aiken of "American Idol" fame announced on Wednesday, February 5, 2014, that he'll seek <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpoliticalticker.blogs.cnn.com%2F2014%2F02%2F05%2Fclay-aiken-launches-bid-for-congress%2F">the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers</a> in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District. Here, Aiken performs in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in December 2012. Here are other celebrities who have thrown their hats in the political ring:
Celebrity politicians —
Singer Clay Aiken of "American Idol" fame announced on Wednesday, February 5, 2014, that he'll seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District. Here, Aiken performs in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in December 2012. Here are other celebrities who have thrown their hats in the political ring:
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Hip-hop icon Wyclef Jean filed the paperwork to run for the president of Haiti in 2010, but Haitian officials ruled him ineligible as a candidate.
Celebrity politicians —
Hip-hop icon Wyclef Jean filed the paperwork to run for the president of Haiti in 2010, but Haitian officials ruled him ineligible as a candidate.
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Actor Ben Jones played Cooter Davenport in the television show "The Dukes of Hazzard." The Georgia Democrat went on to serve two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Celebrity politicians —
Actor Ben Jones played Cooter Davenport in the television show "The Dukes of Hazzard." The Georgia Democrat went on to serve two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
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Sean Duffy, the former "Real World: Boston" star, was elected to the U.S. House in 2010 and re-elected in 2012. Here, the Wisconsin Republican shoots a video of himself on the Senate steps In Washington.
Celebrity politicians —
Sean Duffy, the former "Real World: Boston" star, was elected to the U.S. House in 2010 and re-elected in 2012. Here, the Wisconsin Republican shoots a video of himself on the Senate steps In Washington.
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Talk-show host Jerry Springer was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 1971. He resigned <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcontent.time.com%2Ftime%2Fspecials%2F2007%2Farticle%2F0%2C28804%2C1721111_1721210_1721110%2C00.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">over a scandal involving his hiring of a prostitute</a> but was later re-elected to the council and went on to become Cincinnati mayor. He later won greater fame for his tabloid talk show.
Celebrity politicians —
Talk-show host Jerry Springer was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 1971. He resigned over a scandal involving his hiring of a prostitute but was later re-elected to the council and went on to become Cincinnati mayor. He later won greater fame for his tabloid talk show.
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Probably the most famous of all actors-turned-politicians, Ronald Reagan made more than 50 movies before being elected governor of California and eventually U.S. president for two terms, 1981-1989. He's pictured here in the TV show "Death Valley Days" in 1965.
Celebrity politicians —
Probably the most famous of all actors-turned-politicians, Ronald Reagan made more than 50 movies before being elected governor of California and eventually U.S. president for two terms, 1981-1989. He's pictured here in the TV show "Death Valley Days" in 1965.
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Clint Eastwood managed to make a few movies while serving as mayor of Camel-by-the-Sea, California, for one term in the 1980s. Here he's seen on voting day in 1986.
Celebrity politicians —
Clint Eastwood managed to make a few movies while serving as mayor of Camel-by-the-Sea, California, for one term in the 1980s. Here he's seen on voting day in 1986.
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Former wrestler Jesse Ventura was governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003.
Celebrity politicians —
Former wrestler Jesse Ventura was governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003.
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After Sonny and Cher fame, singer Sonny Bono became mayor of Palm Springs, California, He was elected as a U.S. congressman from California's 44 District in 1994. His political career was cut short by his death in a 1998 skiing accident.
Celebrity politicians —
After Sonny and Cher fame, singer Sonny Bono became mayor of Palm Springs, California, He was elected as a U.S. congressman from California's 44 District in 1994. His political career was cut short by his death in a 1998 skiing accident.
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Actor Fred Thompson, known for his stint on "Law & Order," was a U.S. senator from Tennessee from 1994 to 2003. The Republican made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2008.
Celebrity politicians —
Actor Fred Thompson, known for his stint on "Law & Order," was a U.S. senator from Tennessee from 1994 to 2003. The Republican made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2008.
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"Diff'rent Strokes" child star Gary Coleman put his name in the hat for governor of California in the much-publicized 2003 recall election that Arnold Schwarzenegger went on win.
Celebrity politicians —
"Diff'rent Strokes" child star Gary Coleman put his name in the hat for governor of California in the much-publicized 2003 recall election that Arnold Schwarzenegger went on win.
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Action film star Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in 2003. He finished his second term as governor in 2011.
Celebrity politicians —
Action film star Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in 2003. He finished his second term as governor in 2011.
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In November 2007, television personality Stephen Colbert's presidential bid was cut short when <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2007%2FPOLITICS%2F11%2F06%2Fobama.colbert%2Findex.html">he was denied a place on the ballot in South Carolina's Democratic primary</a>. Despite making a mark in the polls, his campaign was viewed more as a publicity stunt.
Celebrity politicians —
In November 2007, television personality Stephen Colbert's presidential bid was cut short when he was denied a place on the ballot in South Carolina's Democratic primary. Despite making a mark in the polls, his campaign was viewed more as a publicity stunt.
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Former comedian Al Franken, one of the original writers on "Saturday Night Live," won a narrow race in 2008 to become a U.S. senator from Minnesota. The Democrat is running for re-election in 2014.
Celebrity politicians —
Former comedian Al Franken, one of the original writers on "Saturday Night Live," won a narrow race in 2008 to become a U.S. senator from Minnesota. The Democrat is running for re-election in 2014.
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Fred Grandy, a former actor best known as Gopher on "The Love Boat," started his political career as an aide to a U.S. representative shortly after graduating from Harvard University. Following his popular acting gig, Grandy returned to his home state of Iowa to serve as a U.S. congressman from 1987 to 1995.
Celebrity politicians —
Fred Grandy, a former actor best known as Gopher on "The Love Boat," started his political career as an aide to a U.S. representative shortly after graduating from Harvard University. Following his popular acting gig, Grandy returned to his home state of Iowa to serve as a U.S. congressman from 1987 to 1995.
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