> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.grumpybuck.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # It’s Election Day. Here Are 10 Athletes Who Became Politicians - URL: https://www.grumpybuck.com/its-election-day-here-are-10-athletes-who-became-politicians/ - Published: 2026-11-03T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-03T12:00:00.000Z - Description: From Gerald Ford, Michigan’s center, to Bill Bradley, Jack Kemp and Jim Bunning: 10 athletes who went from the field to the ballot, plus who’s on the ballot today. - Author: Brad Riddell - Tags: Sports History, Top 10, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Boxing Today is Election Day, and somewhere on a ballot near you there’s probably a candidate who used to be good at a sport. It’s an old American tradition. A famous name helps, a team-captain résumé helps, and it turns out a lot of athletes like standing in front of a crowd. Here are 10 who traded the uniform for a campaign button, from a mayor to a president. Parties are listed for the record, not the scorecard. Whoever you’re voting for, go vote. ## 10\. Kevin Johnson: From the Suns to Sacramento City Hall **3-time NBA All-Star. Mayor of Sacramento, 2008–2016.** ![Kevin Johnson drives for the Phoenix Suns.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/kj_suns.jpg) Kevin Johnson drives for the Phoenix Suns. Kevin Johnson grew up in Sacramento, starred at Cal and spent most of his 12 NBA seasons running the point for the Phoenix Suns, where he made 3 All-Star teams. He went home and ran for mayor in 2008\. He forced a runoff with the incumbent, Heather Fargo, and beat her on Election Day. A Democrat, he was the city’s first Black mayor. His signature win wasn’t a law. It was keeping the Kings in Sacramento in 2013, when the team was nearly sold and moved to Seattle. NBA owners voted 22-8 against the move. ![“Johnson scores convincing victory.” (The Sacramento Bee, Nov. 5, 2008, p. 1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c16.jpg) “Johnson scores convincing victory.” (The Sacramento Bee, Nov. 5, 2008, p. 1, via Newspapers.com) ## 9\. Heath Shuler: The Draft Bust Who Beat an Incumbent **1993 Heisman runner-up. U.S. House, North Carolina, 2007–2013.** ![Heath Shuler at Tennessee, where he finished 2nd for the 1993 Heisman.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/shuler_tennessee.jpg) Heath Shuler at Tennessee, where he finished 2nd for the 1993 Heisman. Heath Shuler finished 2nd in the 1993 Heisman voting at Tennessee and went 3rd overall in the 1994 NFL Draft, to Washington. His pro career is usually remembered as one of the great quarterback busts. His political career went better. In 2006, as a Democrat, he beat an 8-term Republican incumbent, Charles Taylor, in the mountains of western North Carolina. In 2010 he ran against Nancy Pelosi for House Democratic leader. He lost, 150-43. ![“Shuler, Duncan win.” Shuler celebrates in Asheville. He won 53.7% to 46.3%. (Asheville Citizen-Times, Nov. 8, 2006, p. 1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c13.jpg) “Shuler, Duncan win.” Shuler celebrates in Asheville. He won 53.7% to 46.3%. (Asheville Citizen-Times, Nov. 8, 2006, p. 1, via Newspapers.com) ## 8\. Manny Pacquiao: Senator, Champion, Presidential Candidate **Only 8-division world champion in boxing history. Philippine Senate, 2016–2022.** ![Pacquiao kept fighting while he served in the Philippine Senate.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/pacquiao_ring.jpg) Pacquiao kept fighting while he served in the Philippine Senate. Manny Pacquiao won world titles in 8 weight classes, which no other boxer has done. He won a seat in the Philippine House in 2010 and kept fighting while he served. In 2016 he was elected to the Senate. He ran for president of the Philippines in 2022 and finished 3rd. In July 2025, at 46, he came back to fight Mario Barrios for a welterweight title and got a draw. In September 2026 he was named head of the country’s National Anti-Poverty Commission, a Cabinet-rank job. ![Sen. Manny Pacquiao at a Philippine Senate hearing.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/pacquiao_senate.jpg) Sen. Manny Pacquiao at a Philippine Senate hearing. ## 7\. J.C. Watts: Orange Bowl MVP, Twice **Oklahoma quarterback. U.S. House, Oklahoma, 1995–2003.** ![J.C. Watts, No. 1, carries the ball for Oklahoma.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/watts_ou.jpg) J.C. Watts, No. 1, carries the ball for Oklahoma. J.C. Watts was the Orange Bowl MVP 2 years in a row as Oklahoma’s quarterback, then played in the Canadian Football League. He was the offensive MVP of the 1981 Grey Cup, which his Ottawa team lost to Edmonton 26-23. He was elected to Congress as a Republican in 1994 and became chairman of the House Republican Conference, the first African American Republican elected to a House leadership post. ![Watts won a 3-way race with 52%. That night, he took a call from former President George Bush: “Mr. President, we won it.” (The Daily Oklahoman, Nov. 9, 1994, p. 1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c10.jpg) Watts won a 3-way race with 52%. That night, he took a call from former President George Bush: “Mr. President, we won it.” (The Daily Oklahoman, Nov. 9, 1994, p. 1, via Newspapers.com) ## 6\. Steve Largent: The Hall of Famer From Tulsa **Retired with the NFL’s career receiving records. U.S. House, Oklahoma, 1994–2002.** ![Steve Largent, No. 80 for the Seattle Seahawks.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/largent_seahawks.jpg) Steve Largent, No. 80 for the Seattle Seahawks. When Steve Largent retired from the Seahawks in 1989, he held the NFL records for career catches (819), receiving yards and touchdown catches (100). He went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. By then he was already in Congress. A Republican, he won a House seat from Tulsa in 1994\. In 2002 he ran for governor of Oklahoma and lost to Brad Henry by 6,866 votes, 43.3% to 42.6%. ![“Largent Scores Easily Over Price.” He won 63% to 37%. (Tulsa World, Nov. 9, 1994, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c12.jpg) “Largent Scores Easily Over Price.” He won 63% to 37%. (Tulsa World, Nov. 9, 1994, via Newspapers.com) ## 5\. Tommy Tuberville: 13-0, Then the Senate **Auburn’s 2004 team went 13-0\. U.S. Senate, Alabama, 2021–present.** ![Tuberville on the Auburn sideline.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/tuberville_auburn.jpg) Tuberville on the Auburn sideline. Tommy Tuberville coached Auburn for 10 seasons, and his 2004 team went 13-0 and didn’t get a shot at the national title. He also coached Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Cincinnati. In 2020 he ran for the U.S. Senate as a Republican and beat the incumbent, Democrat Doug Jones, 60% to 40%. Today it’s a rematch: Tuberville and Jones are on the ballot for governor of Alabama. ![Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s official portrait.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/tuberville_senate.jpg) Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s official portrait. ![“Seeing red: Tuberville takes Senate seat from Jones.” (Press-Register, Mobile, Ala., Nov. 4, 2020, p. A1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c17.jpg) “Seeing red: Tuberville takes Senate seat from Jones.” (Press-Register, Mobile, Ala., Nov. 4, 2020, p. A1, via Newspapers.com) ## 4\. Jim Bunning: A Perfect Game and 2 Terms in the Senate **Perfect game, June 21, 1964\. U.S. Senate, Kentucky, 1999–2011.** ![Bunning pitches the perfect game against the Mets at Shea Stadium, June 21, 1964.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/bunning_perfect.jpg) Bunning pitches the perfect game against the Mets at Shea Stadium, June 21, 1964. Jim Bunning threw a perfect game for the Phillies against the Mets at Shea Stadium on Father’s Day 1964\. It was the first perfect game in the National League since 1880\. He was the 2nd pitcher, after Cy Young, to win 100 games and strike out 1,000 batters in both leagues, and he went into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996. He was elected to the House from northern Kentucky as a Republican in 1986, then to the Senate in 1998, in a race so close that the Louisville paper called it “neck and neck” the next morning. He served 2 terms. He’s the only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who also served in Congress. ![“Bunning easily defeats Mann for Congress.” Bunning hugs his wife, Mary, after his 1st win. (The Kentucky Post, Covington, Nov. 5, 1986, p. 1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c08.jpg) “Bunning easily defeats Mann for Congress.” Bunning hugs his wife, Mary, after his 1st win. (The Kentucky Post, Covington, Nov. 5, 1986, p. 1, via Newspapers.com) ![The 1998 Senate race the morning after. (The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Nov. 4, 1998, p. 1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c09.jpg) The 1998 Senate race the morning after. (The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Nov. 4, 1998, p. 1, via Newspapers.com) ## 3\. Jack Kemp: The Quarterback Who Almost Became Vice President **1965 AFL MVP. U.S. House, New York, 1971–1989.** ![Jack Kemp, No. 15 for the Buffalo Bills.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/kemp_bills.jpg) Jack Kemp, No. 15 for the Buffalo Bills. Jack Kemp was a 17th-round draft pick who got cut or bounced by 5 pro teams before the AFL came along. Then he quarterbacked the Buffalo Bills to back-to-back AFL championships in 1964 and 1965, and helped start the AFL players’ union. He was elected to Congress from the Buffalo suburbs as a Republican in 1970, beating Democrat Thomas Flaherty, and served 18 years. Then he ran HUD under the first President Bush, and in 1996 he was Bob Dole’s running mate. ![“Kemp Defeats Flaherty.” (Buffalo Evening News, Nov. 4, 1970, p. 1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c07.jpg) “Kemp Defeats Flaherty.” (Buffalo Evening News, Nov. 4, 1970, p. 1, via Newspapers.com) ![Kemp’s official portrait as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/kemp_hud.jpg) Kemp’s official portrait as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. ## 2\. Bill Bradley: Rhodes Scholar, Knick, Senator **2 NBA titles with the Knicks. U.S. Senate, New Jersey, 1979–1997.** ![Bradley (42) reaches for a pass at Villanova, Dec. 7, 1964, his senior year at Princeton. (AP Wirephoto)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/bradley_princeton.jpg) Bradley (42) reaches for a pass at Villanova, Dec. 7, 1964, his senior year at Princeton. (AP Wirephoto) Bill Bradley was an All-American at Princeton, a Rhodes Scholar, and an Olympic gold medalist in 1964\. Then he spent 10 seasons with the New York Knicks and won championships in 1970 and 1973. ![Bradley, No. 24 for the Knicks.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/bradley_knicks.jpg) Bradley, No. 24 for the Knicks. In 1978, the year after he retired, he was elected to the Senate from New Jersey as a Democrat. He served 3 terms and ran for president in 2000, losing the Democratic nomination to Al Gore. ![“Bradley Wins Senate Race.” Bradley, 35, beat Jeff Bell 56% to 44%. (The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J., Nov. 8, 1978, p. 1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c05.jpg) “Bradley Wins Senate Race.” Bradley, 35, beat Jeff Bell 56% to 44%. (The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J., Nov. 8, 1978, p. 1, via Newspapers.com) ## 1\. Gerald Ford: The Center Who Became President **Michigan’s MVP in 1934\. 38th President of the United States.** ![Gerald Ford over the ball at Michigan.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/ford_center.jpg) Gerald Ford over the ball at Michigan. Gerald Ford was a backup center on the Michigan teams that won national titles in 1932 and 1933\. He finally started as a senior in 1934, on a team that went 1-7, and his teammates voted him MVP anyway. That fall, Georgia Tech refused to play if Willis Ward, Michigan’s Black end and Ford’s close friend, took the field. Michigan benched Ward. Ford threatened to quit and played only after Ward asked him to. ![Ford, No. 48, and his friend Willis Ward, No. 61, at Michigan.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/ford_ward.jpg) Ford, No. 48, and his friend Willis Ward, No. 61, at Michigan. The Green Bay Packers offered Ford $110 a game, and the Detroit Lions offered $200\. He went to Yale instead, as an assistant football coach and boxing coach, and got a law degree. He had never boxed, so he took a crash course at the YMCA back home in Grand Rapids. In 1948 he ran for Congress in Grand Rapids as a Republican. He beat the incumbent, Bartel Jonkman, in the primary, then beat Democrat Fred Barr Jr. easily in November. He served nearly 25 years and became House minority leader, then vice president in December 1973\. On Aug. 9, 1974, he became president. Michigan retired his No. 48 in 1994. ![Sen. Arthur Vandenberg welcomes Ford, the new congressman from Grand Rapids, to Washington in 1949. (National Archives)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/ford_vandenberg.jpg) Sen. Arthur Vandenberg welcomes Ford, the new congressman from Grand Rapids, to Washington in 1949\. (National Archives) ![Ford’s 1st win didn’t make the headlines. The Grand Rapids Press led with Truman’s upset, and Ford was in the returns box. (The Grand Rapids Press, Nov. 3, 1948, p. 1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c01.jpg) Ford’s 1st win didn’t make the headlines. The Grand Rapids Press led with Truman’s upset, and Ford was in the returns box. (The Grand Rapids Press, Nov. 3, 1948, p. 1, via Newspapers.com) ## Honorable Mentions Jesse Ventura wrestled as “The Body” and was elected governor of Minnesota in 1998 on the Reform Party ticket. ![Jesse “The Body” Ventura in his wrestling days. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/ventura.jpg) Jesse “The Body” Ventura in his wrestling days. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons) ![“Ventura Wins.” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Nov. 4, 1998, p. 1, via Newspapers.com)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/11/c18.jpg) “Ventura Wins.” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Nov. 4, 1998, p. 1, via Newspapers.com) Bob Mathias won the Olympic decathlon in 1948 and 1952 and served 4 terms in the House. Track star Jim Ryun, 1936 Olympic relay gold medalist Ralph Metcalfe, pitcher Wilmer “Vinegar Bend” Mizell and Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne all served in Congress, too. ## On the Ballot Today Tuberville isn’t the only one. Former Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is the Republican nominee in Texas’s 21st District. Former Titans linebacker Colin Allred, who served in the House from 2019 to 2025, is the Democratic nominee in Texas’s 33rd. Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is the Republican nominee in Arizona’s 1st. And former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Who did we miss? Tell us in the comments.