Imagine this: actor John Leguizamo playing the role of a politician in Texas. Except, what if instead of playing the role, he really went for it?
He just might. In an interview with the Daily Beast published Tuesday, Leguizamo expressed interest in potentially running for office in Texas. Specifically, “someplace heinous to make a difference,” so that he could stick up for the people of color in the state.
The actor said that while he loves his acting career, he might be willing to put it on hold in order to run for office.
“Yes, I would run if my celebrity could get me elected, to get rid of gerrymandering and to allow people to teach Latino history in Texas, which is 39 percent Latino and around 12 percent black, so we people of color are the majority. Why are we so beaten down there?” he told the Daily Beast.
A glance at Leguizamo’s Twitter feed provides insight as to what he might be like in office: lots of criticism for President Donald Trump, a tweet asking people to donate to help “stop gerrymandering or voter suppression,” and a confession that he’s been donating a daily $25 to El Paso democrat Beto O’Rourke's campaign to unseat Ted Cruz in the U.S. Senate.
Perhaps this tweet from Leguizamo can offer a preview to the kind of politician Leguizamo aspires to be:
I want all people represented! We are not all free until we are treated equally!! Im not hating Im making a demand to be equally represented and if i have to be political i will!! But hating on other groups is not an option! https://t.co/isErw3GQhO
— John Leguizamo (@JohnLeguizamo) January 24, 2018