JIMMIE JOHNSON, REPORTER: 

HE’S AN OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR, BUSINESSMAN AND NATIVE TEXAN. NOW, HE’S LEADING A POLL TO BECOME THEIR NEXT GOVERNOR.   

IF THERE’S JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY, IT’S MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY.   

MCCONAUGHEY, BEST KNOWN FOR HIS ROLES IN DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, MAGIC MIKE, DAZED AND CONFUSED AND MAY SOON HAVE A STARRING ROLE IN TEXAS STATE POLITICS.  

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 2022 ELECTIONS A POLL CONDUCTED BY THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER SHOWS MCCONAUGHEY WITH A FORTY FIVE TO THIRTY THREE PERCENT LEAD OVER INCUMBENT GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.      

TWENTY TWO PERCENT OF REGISTERED VOTERS SAY THEY WOULD VOTE FOR ANOTHER CANDIDATE.   

MCCONAUGHEY HAS CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS HANDLING OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. SPECIFICALLY, LIFTING THE STATE’S MASK MANDATE ON CBS THIS MORNING. 

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: ”I was a little dumbfounded by the decision. I understand go back to work. What I did not understand was pull the mask mandate.” 

JOHNSON: MCCONAUGHEY HASN’T FORMALLY THROWN HIS NAME INTO THE RACE JUST YET.  

IN THIS INTERVIEW WITH AL ROKER ON CNBC, THE STAR DIDN’T TAKE THE IDEA OFF THE TABLE EITHER.   

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: “It’s very honorable consideration. I got to choose for myself. I want to get into a leadership role in the next chapter of my life. Now, what role am I going to be useful in? I don’t know if that’s in a political position.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON: WHILE HIS POLLING NUMBERS ARE FAVORABLE, WHAT’S UNCLEAR IS WHERE HE STANDS ON ISSUES AFFECTING EVERYDAY TEXANS SUCH AS BORDER SECURITY, IMMIGRATION, AND THE ECONOMY.  

WE KNOW HE CARES ABOUT THE PEOPLE. IN FEBRUARY, THE ACTOR ORGANIZED THIS VIRTUAL BENEFIT CONCERT ON HIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL CALLED “WE’RE TEXAS.”  

MONIES RAISED WENT TOWARDS HELPING RESIDENTS RECOVER AFTER A RECORD-BREAKING WINTER STORM.   

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: 

“We’re the Lone Star State and our spirit will always just keep living. Why? Because we’re Texas.”  

JIMMIE JOHNSON: BUT WILL MCCONAUGHEY BE GREAT FOR TEXAS? THAT’S THE QUESTION. MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY. JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.