List of American sportsperson-politicians

This is a list of American sportsperson-politicians.

List

Name Sport Background State Office(s) Term Party
Dave Albritton Track and field 1936 Olympic high jump medal winner OH State Representative 1961–1972 Republican
Colin Allred Football Played for the Tennessee Titans TX U.S. Representative 2019–2025 Democratic
Candidate for Senate 2024
Vic Backlund Baseball Played for the Los Angeles Dodgers OR State Representative 1999–2005 Republican
Randy Bass Baseball Played for the Hanshin Tigers OK State Senator 2005–2019 Democratic
Dave Bing Basketball Hall of Fame shooting guard at Syracuse University and three NBA teams, including the Detroit Pistons MI Mayor of Detroit 2009–2013 Democratic
Brandon Bochenski Ice hockey Played wing for the University of North Dakota and several AHL and NHL teams ND Mayor of Grand Forks 2020–present Republican
Bill Bradley Basketball Hall of Fame small forward at Princeton University, 1964 Olympic gold medal team, and the New York Knicks NJ U.S. Senator 1979–1997 Democratic
Candidate for President 2000
Fred H. Brown Baseball Outfielder for the Boston Beaneaters NH U.S. Attorney 1914–1922 Democratic
Governor 1923–1925
U.S. Senator 1933–1939
United States Comptroller General 1939–1940
Kam Buckner Football played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini IL member of the Illinois House of Representatives 2019–present Democratic
speaker pro tempore of the Illinois House of Representatives 2025–present
candidate for Mayor of Chicago 2023
Jim Bunning Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher with the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Los Angeles Dodgers KY State Senator 1980–1984 Republican
Nominee for Governor 1983
U.S. Representative 1987–1999
U.S. Senator 1999–2011
Ben Nighthorse Campbell Judo Captain of the US team at the 1964 Summer Olympics CO State Representative 1983–1987 Democratic (before 1995)
Republican (1995–present)
U.S. Representative 1987–1993
U.S. Senator 1993–2005
Sharice Davids Mixed martial arts Fought professionally, 2013–2014 KS U.S. Representative 2018–present Democratic
Terry Dehere Basketball Seton Hall University, 1989–93; Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, and Vancouver Grizzlies, 1993–99 NJ Councilor of Jersey City 2001–2007 Independent
Member of the Jersey City Board of Education 2007–present
LaVern Dilweg Football Green Bay Packers, 1927–1934 WI U.S. Representative 1943–1945 Democratic
Arne Duncan Basketball Played at Harvard University and went on to play in Australia's National Basketball League from 1987 to 1991 IL CEO of Chicago Public Schools 2001–2009 Democratic
U.S. Secretary of Education 2009–2016
Raymond Flynn Basketball professional and collegiate men's basketball player MA Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 1971–1975 and 1975–1978 Democratic
Boston City Councilor 1978–1984
Mayor of Boston 1984–1993
United States Ambassador to the Holy See 1993–1997
candidate for U.S. Congress 1998
Gerald Ford Football Center, linebacker, and long snapper for University of Michigan, 1932–1935, assistant varsity football coach for Yale University, 1935–1937, junior varsity head football coach for Yale University, 1938[1] MI U.S. Representative 1949–1973 Republican
Vice President 1973–1974
President 1974–1977
Dick Fosbury Track and Field 1968 Olympic high jump gold medal winner ID Candidate for State Representative 2014 Democratic
Commissioner of Blaine County 2019–2023
Steve Garvey Baseball First baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres CA Candidate for Senate 2024 Republican
Napoleon Harris Football former NFL player IL member of the Illinois Senate 2013–present Democratic
supervisor of Thornton Township 2025–present
Maura Healey Basketball professional and collegiate women's basketball player MA Attorney General of Massachusetts 2015–2023 Democratic
Governor of Massachusetts 2023–present
Anthony Gonzalez Football Ohio State University, Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots OH U.S. Representative 2019–2023 Republican
Red Grange Football Halfback for the Illinois Fighting Illini (collegiate) and the Chicago Bears and New York Yankees (NFL); coach for the Chicago Bears (NFL); co-owner of the New York Yankees (NFL) IL member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees 1951–1955 Democratic
Glenn Jacobs Professional wrestling Independent circuit (1992–1995) and in WWE (1995–present), most notably as Kane. Also played football and basketball at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University). TN Mayor of Knox County 2018–present Republican
Edward J. King Football Guard and Defensive end for the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Colts MA Governor of Massachusetts 1979–1983 Democratic
Fob James Football All-American halfback for Auburn University, 1952–1955 and Montreal Alouettes, 1956 AL Governor 1979–1983 Democratic
1995–1999 Republican
Caitlyn Jenner Decathlon 1972 Summer Olympics, 1975 Pan American Games, and 1976 Summer Olympics CA Candidate for Governor 2021 Republican
Kevin Johnson Basketball University of California, Berkeley, 1983–1987; Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns, 1987–2000 CA Mayor of Sacramento 2008–2016 Democratic
Walter Johnson Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher for the Washington Senators, 1907–27 MD Commissioner of Montgomery County 1938 Republican
Candidate for U.S. Representative 1940
Hayes Jones Running Winner of 110m hurdles at the 1964 Summer Olympics MI State Representative 2006 Democratic
Jim Jordan Wrestling Two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, 1985–1986, assistant wrestling coach for Ohio State University, 1987–1995 OH State Representative 1995–2000 Republican
State Senator 2001–2006
U.S. Representative 2007–present
Ed Kelly Basketball played for the Oshkosh All-Stars of the NBA IL General Superintendent of the Chicago Park District 1972–1986 Democratic
Michelle Kwan Figure skating Two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 1998, bronze in 2002), a five-time World champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003) and a nine-time U.S. champion (1996, 1998–2005) CA U.S. Ambassador to Belize 2022–2025 Democratic
Jack Kemp Football Played quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, 1962–69 NY U.S. Representative 1971–1989 Republican
Candidate for President 1988
U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 1989–1993
Nominee for Vice President 1996
Steve Largent Football Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, 1976–89 OK U.S. Representative 1995–2003 Republican
Nominee for Governor 2002
Don Lash Running Set a world record for the two-mile run in 1936, competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics IN State Representative 1973–1982 Republican
Greg Lashutka Football Played college football for Ohio State, drafted into the NFL by the Buffalo Bills OH Mayor of Columbus 1992–2000 Republican
Johnny Lattner Football Halfback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (college) and Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) IL nominee for Cook County Board of Commissioners 1986 Democratic
Bob Mathias Track and field Decathlon winner at the Summer Olympics in 1948 and 1952 CA U.S. Representative 1967–1975 Republican
Tom McMillen Basketball Played for the University of Maryland and the Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Bullets MD U.S. Representative 1987–1993 Democratic
Wayne Messam Football Wide receiver for Florida State University, and in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, 1997 FL City Commissioner of Miramar 2011–2015 Democratic
Mayor of Miramar 2015–present
Candidate for President 2020
Ralph Metcalfe Running Medalist at the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics IL U.S. Representative 1971–1978 Democratic
Jack Mildren Football Quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and with the Baltimore Colts and New England Patriots OK Lieutenant Governor 1991–1995 Democratic
Nominee for Governor 1994
Wilmer Mizell Baseball Pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Mets, 1952–62 NC U.S. Representative 1969–1975 Republican
Markwayne Mullin Mixed martial arts Fought professionally, 2006–2007 OK U.S. Representative 2013–2023 Republican
U.S. Senator 2023–present
William D. Mullins Baseball Pitcher in the Washington Senators minor league system MA State Representative 1977–1986 Democratic
Tito Ortiz Mixed Martial Arts Ultimate Fighting Championship CA Member of the Huntington Beach City Council 2020–2021 Republican
Tom Osborne Football Head football coach for the University of Nebraska, 1973–97; University of Nebraska athletic director, 2007–2013 NE U.S. Representative 2001–2007 Republican
Candidate for Governor 2006
Burgess Owens Football Safety for the University of Miami (1970–72), New York Jets (1973–79), and Oakland Raiders (1980–82) UT U.S. Representative 2021–present Republican
Alan Page Football Played for University of Notre Dame and the Minnesota Vikings MN Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court 1993–2015 Independent
B.J. Penn Mixed martial arts Mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner HI Candidate for Governor 2022 Republican
Harold Pogue Football collegiate quarterback and halfback for the Illinois Fighting Illini IL member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees 1935–1941 and 1959–1969 Democratic
president of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees 1940–1941
member of the Decatur City Council 1959–1963
Tom Pridemore Football Played for Atlanta Falcons WV Delegate in the West Virginia House of Delegates 1981-1983[2] Democrat
Jon Runyan Sr. Football Offensive tackle for University of Michigan, and in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans (1996–99), Philadelphia Eagles (2000–08), and San Diego Chargers (2009) NJ U.S. Representative 2011–2015 Republican
Ed Rutkowski Football Wide receiver and later quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, 1963–68 NY Executive of Erie County 1979–1987 Republican
Deputy Commissioner of the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation 1995–2006
Jim Ryun Running The last American to hold the world record in the mile run, competitor in the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Summer Olympics, first high schooler to break the four-minute mile KS U.S. Representative 1996–2007 Republican
Jim Schwantz Football Linebacker for Purdue University, and in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers IL Mayor of Palatine 2009–present Independent
Arnold Schwarzenegger Bodybuilding Mr. Olympia from 1970 to 1973 CA Governor 2003–2011 Republican
Pius Schwert Baseball Catcher for the Penn Quakers and New York Yankees NY Clerk of Erie County 1934–1938 Democratic
U.S. Representative 1939–1941
J. D. Scholten baseball pitcher for the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Professional Baseball IA member of the Iowa Senate 2023–present Democratic
nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives 2018 and 2022
candidate for the U.S. Senate 2026
Heath Shuler Football Played for the University of Tennessee and the New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders NC U.S. Representative 2007–2013 Democratic
John K. Tener Baseball Played for the Orioles in 1885, Chicago White Stockings from 1888 to 1889, and the Pittsburgh Burghers for the 1890 season. PA U.S. Representative 1909–1911 Republican
Governor 1911–1915
Jim Thomas Tennis Highest ATP world singles ranking was number 288 OH State Representative 2023–present Republican
Robert R. Thomas football NFL kicker IL judge of the circuit court of DuPage County 1988–1994 Republican
chief judge of the circuit court of DuPage County 1989–1994
Judge of the 2nd district of the Illinois Appellate Court 1994–2000
justice of the Illinois Supreme Court 2000–2020
chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court 2005–2008
William Hale Thompson football and water polo captained the Chicago Athletic Association's teams IL member of the Chicago City Council 1900–1902 Republican
member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners 1902–1904
Mayor of Chicago 1915–1923 and 1927–1931
U.S. Senate candidate 1918
candidate for President 1928
Jim Tressel Football Played for Baldwin Wallace University; assistant coach at University of Akron, Miami University, Syracuse University, and the Ohio State University; head coach at Youngstown State University and the Ohio State University OH Lieutenant Governor of Ohio 2025–present Republican
Tommy Tuberville Football played for Southern Arkansas University; assistant coach at Arkansas State University, the University of Miami, and Texas A&M University; head coach at the University of Mississippi, Auburn University, Texas Tech University, and the University of Cincinnati AL U.S. Senator 2021–present Republican
candidate for Governor of Alabama 2026
Scott Turner Football Played for the Washington Commanders, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos TX Member of the Texas House of Representatives 2013–2017 Republican
U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 2025–present
Mo Udall Basketball Played for the University of Arizona, and later with the Denver Nuggets for one year AZ U.S. Representative 1961–1991 Democratic
Jesse Ventura Professional wrestling American Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Federation MN Mayor of Brooklyn Park 1991–1995 Independence
Governor 1999–2003
Herschel Walker Football National Football League GA Candidate for U.S. Senator 2021-22 Republican
Nathan Walton[3] Basketball played college basketball for Princeton Tigers men's basketball CA candidate for Governor of California 2003 Independent
J. C. Watts Football Played for University of Oklahoma and the Ottawa Rough Riders OK U.S. Representative 1995–2003 Republican
Byron White Football Played for NFL teams Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers during 1938 and 1941 CO U.S. Deputy Attorney General 1961–1962 Democratic
Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1962–1993
Frank White Baseball World Series champion who played for the Kansas City Royals for 18 years. MO Member of the Jackson County Legislature 2014–2016 Democratic
Executive of Jackson County 2016–present
Royce White Basketball Played in the NBA, Basketball Super League, and Big3. MN Candidate for Senate 2024 Republican
Dwayne Woodruff Football Cornerback with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1979–1990) PA Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas 2005–present Independent

See also

References

  1. ^ "At Yale, Ford doubled as coach, law student". January 17, 2007.
  2. ^ "Section Two LEGISLATIVE - Senate and House Rosters" (PDF). Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  3. ^ Multiple sources:
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