Former Athletes Seek Office in 2026 Midterms

Several former sports figures are running for federal and state office on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

Former Athletes Seek Office in 2026 Midterms

Live Poll

Would you vote for a former athlete or sports broadcaster running for office?

Derek Dooley, Chris Dudley, Jay Feely, Michele Tafoya, Mark Teixeira and Tommy Tuberville are among candidates with sports backgrounds seeking office in the November 3, 2026 midterm election. Six sports-linked candidates appear on ballots across several states.

Why it matters

The growing number of athletes and broadcasters running for office reflects how public recognition from sports careers is translating into political candidacies. Their races will help determine party control of key Senate, House and governor seats.

Six candidates with professional sports backgrounds are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across Georgia, Oregon, Arizona, Minnesota, Texas and Alabama. Election results and the final number of sports-linked candidates who advance past their primaries or general contests have not been determined.

The players

Derek Dooley

Derek Dooley is a former Tennessee football coach who is running as a Republican for U.S. Senate in Georgia.

Tommy Tuberville

Tommy Tuberville is a sitting Republican senator from Alabama and a former college football coach who is running for governor of Alabama.

Michele Tafoya

Michele Tafoya is a former Sunday Night Football sideline reporter who is running as a Republican for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

Chris Dudley

Chris Dudley is a former NBA center who is running as a Republican for governor of Oregon.

Jay Feely

Jay Feely is a former NFL player and CBS analyst who is running as a Republican for U.S. House in Arizona's 1st Congressional District.

The details

Derek Dooley, a former Tennessee football coach, is running as a Republican for U.S. Senate in Georgia. Chris Dudley, a former NBA center, seeks the Republican nomination for governor of Oregon, while Jay Feely, a former NFL player and CBS analyst, is running for U.S. House in Arizona's 1st Congressional District.

- November 3, 2026: Midterm election day, with sports-linked candidates on ballots across six states.

Political Context

Candidates with athletic careers have long sought office in the United States, and the 2026 slate adds several former NFL, NBA, MLB and college football figures to that tradition. Opposition and counter-arguments to these candidacies were not included in the source extraction.

Voters in Georgia, Oregon, Arizona, Minnesota, Texas and Alabama will see these candidates on their November 3, 2026 ballots. The outcomes will affect which party controls key Senate, House and governor seats that shape federal and state policy.

The takeaway

Voter familiarity with a candidate's sports career can shape early name recognition, so checking each candidate's policy positions and record remains important before November 3, 2026. Reviewing official candidate filings in each state is a practical starting point.