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“LeBron James vs Michael Jordan for Senate 2022”: Calls for Lakers superstar to enter politics and contest senate elections are gathering great momentum

Amulya Shekhar
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"LeBron James for Senate 2022": Calls for Lakers superstar to enter politics and contest senate elections are gathering great momentum

LeBron James is being floated around as a possible replacement after Ohio senator Rob Portman announced he won’t be running for reelection.

Portman cited “partisan gridlock” as a reason why he is stepping away from Congress:

“I don’t think any Senate office has been more successful in getting things done, but honestly, it has gotten harder and harder to break through the partisan gridlock and make progress on substantive policy, and that has contributed to my decision,” he said in a statement.

James is among the less apolitical sports stars we’ve seen around the recent past. His willingness to take on President Trump earned him respect from all quarters. Practically everyone remembers the fashion in which he dismissed Trump, calling him a bum on his Twitter.

Also Read: “Maybe, you never know”: How Kobe Bryant met Pau Gasol ahead of Spanish star’s blockbuster trade to the Lakers

Basketball players are no strangers to public life or to politics. Kevin Johnson became the mayor of Sacramento. 7-time Pistons All Star Dave Bing ran for and won Detroit mayorial elections in 2009.

What are the chances of LeBron James running for the Senators’ election next year?

James has an NBA contract that ties him to the Lakers right up until 2023. His son could make the NBA by that time, meaning James would extend his career by at least another year to get to play with Bronny. This means that there is practically no chance of LeBron James becoming an Ohio Senator in the near future.

Dave Chappelle, on the other hand, is another name being floated around as a possible replacement. The comedian, commonly viewed as the greatest comic of this century, definitely has the drawing power for the job. But Chappelle also seems the least bit interested in public life.

Also Read: “Gordon Hayward is answering his haters”: Heat legend Dwyane Wade praises Hornets star in the wake of his game-winner against Orlando Magic

LeBron has never expressed any real interest about starting a career in politics. In general, politicians are much more likely to be university graduates in the USA. But sportspersons are a different breed in every country. Their popularity usually trumps the need for them to be well-educated.

About the author

Amulya Shekhar

Amulya Shekhar

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Amulya Shekhar is a sports junkie who thrives on the thrills and frills of live sports action across basketball, football (the American variant works too), parkour, adventure sports. He believes sports connect us to our best selves, and he hopes to help people experience sports more holistically.

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