Actor Matthew McConaughey tells governors he is still mulling future run for political office

Actor Matthew McConaughey speaks at the 2024 summer meeting of the National Governors Association Friday, July 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

SALT LAKE CITY — Actor Matthew McConaughey continued to tease he might run for political office to a room full of governors Friday, joshing about drinking his brand of tequila with at least one of them the night before and taking advice from another to be himself if he ever does run.

Whether the star known for "Dazed and Confused," "A Time to Kill" and "True Detective" would run as a Democrat or Republican, and for what office, remained unknown. McConaughey has been vague about his political affiliation and didn't tip his hand at the National Governors Association meeting.

"I'm on a learning tour and have been for probably the last six years," McConaughey told New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who asked about his plans. "Do I have the instincts and intellect that it would be a good fit for me and I would be a good for it. You know, would I be useful?"

He was learning a lot at the governors' annual summer meeting, he told Murphy.

"I learned a lot from you last night through that tequila, sir," he kidded Murphy, who'd brought up drinking McConaughey's tequila with him.

McConaughey took part in a panel discussion with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, about how to promote civility in politics.

Cox, the genial governor of famously polite Utah, has led a "Disagree Better" campaign to counter harsh rhetoric and combativeness in government -- a project that has caught the attention of McConaughey, who's also been outspoken about U.S. leaders practicing more respect.

The three discussed how politicians' need to grab attention -- and clicks online -- drive extreme rhetoric. McConaughey said that extreme polarization has bled into Hollywood as well.

"My industry has to watch its tongue out of the gate because it's coming from the left. We have to open that conversation with our opening statements and not invalidate a moderate or conservative at the gate, which we're guilty of to an extent," McConaughey remarked of actors and directors weighing in on politics.

McConaughey hinted in 2022 he might run for governor in his home state of Texas. He has meanwhile been outspoken on gun control, urging Congress from the White House after that year's school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, to pass legislation to bolster background checks for gun purchases and raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15-style rifle to 21 from 18.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat, encouraged McConaughey to someday run and offered advice.

"Don't fall into the trap to think you should be just one thing," said Green. "A lot of Republicans will want you to be Republican and a lot of Democrats will want you to be a Democrat, just be you because that might be something special for all of us."

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Gruver contributed from Cheyenne, Wyoming.