To be a successful politician, you do not always need a political science degree or knowing anything about public policy. In most cases, name recognition and popularity are the main deciding factors on any ballots filled with numerous names and titles. A wide range of athletes has won elections as serious competitors, taking election betting to a whole new level. With that in mind, here are some of the athletes who turned to politics:
Dave Bing
Dave Bing spent a total of twelve seasons in the National Basketball Association as a renowned point guard for the Boston Celtics, Washington Bullets, and Detroit Pistons between 1966 and 1978. Dave was a seven-time National Basketball Association All-Star as well as a one-time MVP between 1974 and 1976. In 1990, Dave Bing was inducted into the popular Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
After retiring from the National Basketball Association, Dave ran for the Mayor of Detroit position in 2009. He managed to outshine Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. He was re-elected in November 2009. Dave Bing served as the Detroit Mayor for four years.
Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson was a pitcher for the Washington Senators between 1907 and 1927. Under his name, he managed to play a total of 531 complete matches, amassing 417 wins. This ranks Walter Johnson 2nd and 5th on the list of all-time stars.
Also, Walter Johnson posted 110 shutouts that stand as an MLB record. Between 1913 and 1924, he won AL MVP. In 1938, Walter Johnson won a very competitive election to become one of the most celebrated Montgomery County commissioners in Maryland.
Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley is a former professional basketball player. He played as a small forward as well as a shooting guard. Bill Bradley made the All-Star team in 1973 and helped his team to win the NBA championship between 1970 and 1973. After retiring from sports, Bill served 3 terms as a senator from New Jersey. In 2000, he unsuccessfully ran in the primaries for the president using the Democratic Party.
Jim Bunning
With a 17-year MLB career, Jim Bunning has played for five teams. As a player, he has won a total of 224 matches and struck out more than 2,855 batters between 1955 and 1971. His name made it to the nine All-Star teams. He pitched two no-hitters in 1964.
In 1996, Jim made the Baseball Hall of Fame through the Veterans Committee vote. Jim Bunning decided to become a politician in 1980, serving as a member of the senate of Kentucky from 1980 to 1984. From 1987 to 1999, Jim Bunning was in Kentucky’s House of Representatives. He was again a senator from Kentucky between 1999 and 2011.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell
When he was in college, Ben Nighthorse Campbell was an active member of the San Jose State team that was managed by Yosh Uchida. After returning from Olympic Games, Ben Campbell worked as an assistant sheriff in Sacramento County. Additionally, he was the manager for the U.S.A National Judo Team. In November 1982, Ben Nighthorse Campbell was nominated to the Colorado State Legislature through the Democratic Party.
After servicing two terms, Ben was voted as one of the ten best legislators in 1986. In the same year, Campbell was elected in 1986 to the U.S.A House of Representatives, overpowering incumbent Congressman Mike Strang. In 1992, Ben won a three-way Democratic primary with Josie Heath, the Boulder County Commissioner, and Richard Lamm, the former three-term governor. He also served as the chair of the SIAC, Senate Indian Affairs Committee between 2003 and 2005.
Terry Dehere
Terry Dehere was known as the former no. 13 pick in the NBA Draft in 1993. While playing for the Clippers, Grizzlies, and Kings from 1993 and 1999, he was one of the best shooting guards. He completed his career playing in the NBA Development League and Euro League. He joined the world of politics in 2001 in New Jersey when he became a competitive candidate for the Jersey City municipal seat. From 2007 to 2010, he served on the Board of Education in Jersey City.
Napoleon Harris
Napoleon Harris is a former NFL player. He played as a linebacker for different teams, including the Chiefs, Vikings, and raiders. Harris made the second team All-Huge Ten twice in 2000 as well as 2001. Just a few years after a successful football career, Napoleon Harris became a senator in Illinois, and that was in 2013 when Barack Obama was the president of the U.S.A.
