24 celebrities and media figures who ran for political office

Congressional hopeful New York Republican Bill Cotter tells ‘The Story’ that Congress has ‘forgotten’ that it exists ‘for the people by the people.’

It is not uncommon that public figures, particularly in entertainment and media, try to enter public service, whether it be for mayor, for Congress or even for president. 

With the 2024 election just around the corner, here are 24 celebrities and media figures who have run, or are currently running, for political office.

Clay Aiken of "American Idol" fame first ran for Congress in 2014. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/Getty Images)

Clay Aiken, the singer best known as the runner-up contestant on the second season of "American Idol," threw his hat in the political ring in two unsuccessful congressional bids. The first was in 2014 when he clinched the Democratic nomination in North Carolina's 2nd district and was later defeated by then incumbent Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers. The second was in 2022 in the Democratic primary in North Carolina's 4th district, where he came in third place behind state lawmaker Valerie Foushee, who went on to be elected in the general. 

John Avlon left his job as a CNN political analyst to run for Congress as a Democrat. ((Photo by Lorenzo Bevilaqua/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) )

John Avlon, the former editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast who went on to be a CNN political analyst, left CNN in February to launch a congressional bid in New York's 1st district to unseat Republican Rep. Nick LaLota. Avlon is running as a Democrat and is hoping to clinch his party's nomination in the June 25 primary. 

Roseanne Barr famously announced on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" that she was running for president in the 2012 election cycle. (Kevin Winter/Tonight