Matthew McConaughey says he’s not running to be Texas governor

Matthew McConaughey is ruling out a politics — for now. 

In a video posted to social media Sunday evening, the actor and native Texan revealed that the trail to political workplace is one he is “selecting to not take at this second.” The Oscar winner had been publicly musing about working towards incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, when he faces reelection subsequent 12 months. 

Although the 52-year-old had struggled to articulate his political affiliation or stance on varied points — together with vaccine mandates for kids, which he mentioned he opposed earlier than clarifying that the oldest of his three youngsters is vaccinated — current polls had prompt that he’d be a well-liked selection. Polling from the Dallas Morning Information and UT Tyler noticed him edging out each Abbott and his Democrat challenger, former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, however cut up votes in Abbott’s favor had been it to be a three-way race. Earlier this month, analysis carried out by the Texas Tribune and McConaughey’s alma mater, the College of Texas at Austin, forged doubt on his perceived recognition, with 35 p.c of respondents having a good impression of him, 29 p.c remaining impartial and 24 p.c deeming him unfavorable. 

Calling the hope of a political profession “humbling and provoking,” McConaughey — flanked by the Texas and U.S. flags, with copies of his memoir Greenlights stacked behind him — mentioned in his video message that he’ll “proceed to work and make investments the bounty that I’ve in supporting entrepreneurs, companies and foundations that I imagine are leaders; institutions that I imagine are creating pathways for folks to achieve life; organizations which have a mission to serve and construct belief whereas additionally producing prosperity. That is the American dream.”

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McConaughey famous that he’d realized loads in his research of each Texas and U.S. historical past over the previous two years, however in the end sounded disenchanted with politics, which he is beforehand known as a “damaged enterprise” and in comparison with a “bag of rats.”

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Talking of politicians, he mentioned, “The nice ones may help us to the place we have to go — oh yeah — however let’s be clear: They can not do something for us except we select to do for ourselves.”

He then urged folks to have a good time their particular person freedom, but in addition their collective accountability. 

So to the leaders and servants on the market, and the leaders and servants in every considered one of us, cheers to you. Here is to the liberty to be you. The liberty to be me. And to our accountability to be us.”

He signed off with a nod to the Dazed and Confused line that is develop into his private mantra and the title of his basis: “Simply hold livin.”