Wyclef Jean
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Haiti has been hugely important to the life and work of Wyclef Jean, one of the island nation’s most famous native sons. This is what inspired the former Fugees MC to run for president of Haiti in 2010, inspired, in so small part, by the earthquake that ripped through the country that same year. His political ambitions were halted before they began, however, as the election commission deemed his efforts invalid as he needed to have been a resident of Haiti for at least five years before running.
Luther Campbell
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After decades of courting controversy with his rap group 2 Live Crew and the production of porn films, Luther Campbell pivoted to politics in 2011 with an attempt to unseat the mayor of Miami-Dade County on a platform that included rebuilding housing projects, taxing strippers, and job creation, as well as a promise of transparency about his checkered past. He wound up coming in dead last in the runoff election, garnering a mere 11% of the vote.
Jello Biafra
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The ability of anyone with enough money or gumption to run for mayor in most cities has brought many unusual candidates to the yard over the decades—including former Dead Kennedys vocalist Jello Biafra who made a run at unseating then-mayor of San Francisco Dianne Feinstein in 1979. The punk icon had a hell of a platform, too, including forcing cops to run for election in the neighborhoods they patrol, legalizing squatting in vacant buildings, and banning cars within the city. Biafra lost his bid, grabbing just under four percent of the vote. The outspoken artist also made a run for the Green Party’s nomination for president in 2000, even going so far as to choose jailed activist Mumia Abu-Jamal as his running mate.
Roy Acuff
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When Tennessee Gov. Gordon Browning skipped the party celebrating the Grand Ole Opry radio show going nationwide in 1948, country music legend Roy Acuff didn’t just get mad, he tried to get even. Acuff mounted a campaign to unseat the governor. Acuff’s run for office started off well, as he sailed through the Republican primary and did a fine job balancing his political ambitions with his duties as host of the Opry — but he was knocked out in the general election handily after grabbing 33 percent of the vote.
John Hall
Even as he was scoring hits with his band Orleans (“Still The One”) and writing songs for Janis Joplin and Linda Ronstadt, John Hall remained a passionate environmental and anti-nuclear activist, successfully fighting to stop the placement of nuclear power plant near his home in Upstate New York in 1979. His interest in politics came much later when he decided to run against Republican Sue Kelly for her seat in the U.S. House. Hall won the 2006 election and remained in Congress for two terms, during which time he served on committees for veterans affairs and fighting global warming.
Krist Novoselic
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Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic made it clear that when he decided to run for the office of County Clerk in Wahkiakum County, he had no intention of actually going through with a campaign nor taking office if he won. His 2009 candidacy was a protest against the election system that allowed candidates to list any political party affiliation that they desired. To that end, Novoselic ran as a candidate for the Grange Party. After feeling like he had made his point, he removed his name from the running well before election day.
Justin Jeffre
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Well after his stint in boy band 98 Degrees, Justin Jeffre made a sharp foray into politics when in 2005, he announced he was running for mayor of Cincinnati. His platform was solid as he looked to improve relations between the public and the city’s police department and to revitalize the downtown area. What he lacked was political experience — an issue that was clearly on the minds of Cincinnati voters as the Green Party candidate drew in a mere 708 votes in the primary election.
Scarface
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When Houston City Council member Dwight Boykins announced a run for mayor in 2019, one surprising candidate for his soon-to-be-vacated seat was Geto Boys member Scarface. The rapper, born Brad Jordan, was building off the work of Positive Purpose Movement, the nonprofit he founded to help bring education and employment programs to Houston’s communities of color, and promising to put the “neighbor back in the hood.” His first run at public office was cut short in December when he was beaten in a runoff election by lifelong educator Carolyn Evans-Shabazz.
Antonio Delgado
CREDIT: Facebook/Rep Antonio Delgado
Arguably the least recognizable name on this list, Antonio Delgato does have some artistic bona fides, having worked in the music industry in L.A. for a stretch and releasing a hip-hop album under the name AD The Voice. Delgado has since left his music career behind, moved back to his home state of New York, and worked as an attorney before deciding to run for a seat in Congress in 2018. He won that election against incumbent John Faso and became the first person of color to be elected to the House of Representatives from Upstate New York.