MAGA figures from the world of football are looking to make an end-run into the political world. It’s as if Donald Trump’s ascension to the White House has unleashed a band of inexperienced pigskin enthusiasts hoping to capitalize on their popularity to sweep themselves into office.
Whether it’s due to a general climate of distrust toward politicians or favorable political circumstances (such as conservative-backed voter suppression efforts) in their respective district or state, several Republican neophytes from the world of football have thrown their helmets into the ring this year to run for office.
Last week, former University of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron announced his Republican candidacy for lieutenant governor of Alabama. Should he win, McCarron could end up serving under Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn football coach and sitting U.S. senator who has chosen to run for governor next year instead of seeking re-election. Conservative sports commentator Paul Finebaum has said he’s considering getting into the Republican primary for the Senate seat that Tuberville is vacating.
In Georgia, former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley is running in the GOP primary for Senate, competing for the chance to unseat Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff. Dooley is following in the footsteps of running back Herschel Walker, who was defeated in 2022 by Sen. Raphael Warnock.
And in Arizona, former NFL kicker-turned-broadcaster Jay Feely is running for Congress to serve in the staunchly conservative congressional seat that Rep. Andy Biggs is leaving as he vies to become governor. If elected, these men obviously won’t be the first to pivot from the gridiron to roles in government (or at least to make the attempt). Texas Democratic Senate candidate Collin Allred, who played briefly in the NFL, served in Congress, as did Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah. But MAGA’s hunger for candidates whose distinguishing characteristics are a recognizable name and a loyalty to the conservative cause may be part of the reason these athletes are jumping in, despite a near-total lack of political experience.
Ja’han Jones is an MS NOW opinion blogger. He previously wrote The ReidOut Blog.
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