Actor Matthew McConaughey isn’t running for Texas governor after months of publicly flirting with the idea of becoming the latest celebrity candidate.

The Academy Award winner says in a video that political leadership is not a route he’s choosing to take “at this moment”. 

McConaughey, 52, says he will instead focus on supporting businesses and foundations that create pathways for others to succeed.

The Texas governor’s race is already shaping up to be one of the nation’s highest-profile contests in 2022. 

Republican Governor Greg Abbott is seeking a third term and Democrat Beto O’Rourke, coming off failed bids for the US Senate and president, announced month he was getting in the race.

The Dazed and Confused and Dallas Buyers Club star never said what party – if any – he would run under while acknowledging he was mulling a run for governor in his home state. 

McConaughey also shied away from going into policy specifics and positions on contentious issues in Texas.

“Politicians? The good ones can help us to get to where we need to go, yeah,” McConaughey said in the video posted to Twitter posted on Sunday night.

“But let’s be clear, they can’t do anything for us unless we choose to do for ourselves.”

AAP

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