Halt and take in the scene – for Tim Myers, a former member of OneRepublic, is making a bold pivot into the realm of politics. The 40-year-old, who once lent his bass guitar talents to Ryan Tedder's rock band from 2002 to 2007, has thrown his hat into the ring to become the lieutenant governor of California. Meanwhile, the state's current lieutenant governor, Eleni Kounalakis, is vying to succeed Gavin Newsom, the incumbent governor who is barred from re-election due to term limits.
"I'm no politician," Myers declared on his campaign website. "I'm a father, a husband, a businessman, an activist, and the son of a pastor who imparted to me that faith without deeds is hollow. We must steer away from the well-trodden path; it has led us nowhere."
The musician further elaborated, "The time has come for a fresh approach, and I am the sole candidate in this race poised to usher in the change we yearn for."
Earlier this year, Myers made waves by announcing his intention to challenge Representative Ken Calvert for California's 41st congressional district. However, that campaign website has since been taken offline.
Indeed, Myers is not the first celebrity to embark on a political journey in the Golden State. Prior to his presidency, Ronald Reagan left behind his acting career to serve as the governor of California from 1967 to 1975. Decades later, Arnold Schwarzenegger mounted and won the 2003 recall election, replacing then-governor Gray Davis. The Terminator actor continued his tenure as the "Governator," securing a second term in 2006 before stepping down in 2011 upon reaching the maximum number of terms allowed for a governor.
Caitlyn Jenner also attempted to seize the mantle of California's governor in 2021. However, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum garnered merely 1% of the vote in a special election aimed at recalling Newsom, allowing him to retain his post.
This raises the question: is Newsom, who has publicly exchanged barbs with President Donald Trump, contemplating a run for the nation's highest office?
"I'm not contemplating a run," he told the Wall Street Journal in June. "But it's a path I can envision unfolding."
