Brad Barket/Getty ImagesClay Aiken may be getting political in a big way.
The 35-year-old American Idol runner-up is reportedly "actively considering" running for Congress to represent North Carolina's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House (Aiken is a Raleigh native), according to the Washington Blade.
The site reports that Aiken has "taken initial steps for a run, including consulting with political operatives in Washington, D.C.," in addition to meeting with Raleigh locals and talking to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Aiken certainly wouldn't be to first star to dip their toes into the political pond. While we wait to see if Aiken makes his big move into politics, here are some other celebs who've made the transition into political office!
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Long before his two terms in the California governor's office, the Austrian movie star starred in films like Pumping Iron, Conan the Barbarian, The Terminator and Total Recall.
Wyclef Jean: In 2010 after the devastating earthquake that shook Haiti, the Haiti native ran for president of the poverty-stricken country before being disqualified for not being a current resident of the country.
Shirley Temple: The child star, who made her last movie in 1949 at the age of 21, unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congress in 1967. But her political aspirations didn't end there. President Richard Nixon appointed her as an ambassador to the United Nations in 1969. She was also appointed as the U.S. ambassador to Ghana from 1974 to 1976 and Czechoslovakia from 1989 to 1992.
Ronald Reagan: After rising to fame as a film and radio star, Reagan became the 33rd governor of California before winning the 1980 presidential election on the Republican ticket. Reagan even nabbed himself a second term in the White House.
Clint Eastwood: The Oscar winner, who's known better for his 50-year long career as an actor and director, was the mayor of Carmel, Calif. from 1986 to 1988.
Levi Johnston: After becoming a household name as Bristol Palin's baby daddy, Johnston used his fame to announce he was running in the October 2011 election for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (note; Johnston never received his high school diploma). However, several weeks before election day, Johnston called off his bid for the mayoral seat.
Sonny Bono: Long after his hit TV show with ex Cher, Bono served at mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992 and was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 to represent California's 44th congressional district.