Matthew McConaughey criticizes political polarization, says America must stand together

Actor Matthew McConaughey said Tuesday that increasing polarization inspired him to consider running for governor in his home state of Texas.

“Giving a wondering about, 'Hey, what are we doing? What's going on with us as, as a people, as a state, how we're getting along, where have we gone awry?'” the author of “Greenlights” told Fox News Digital.

The “Dallas Buyers Club” actor said his personal pursuit of a government that truly served its people was the motivated him to explore politics.  

“What's the role of politics in the world? Is it still serving democracy, which I think it should in America,” McConaughey continued. “Studying into two parties, seeing a loss of values, actually, because seeing people on both sides of the aisle, either side of the aisle, rather, holding on so tightly to their blue or red flag pole that their whole identities almost sometimes seems to be based on the invalidation of the other, instead of the validation of their own vision.”

McConaughey does not believe standing against the other side was the way forward for American politics.

“Now I know, and I think we all know that, in the long run, that's not the way forward,” he said.

Speculation that McConaughey would run for governor of Texas ramped up last year as the deadline to file for candidacy approached. Polling showed he would thrash Democratic hopeful Beto O’Rourke and favored over Greg Abbot, the current Texas Governor, but would ultimately lose to Abbot in a three-way race.

The star of “Interstellar” announced his decision not to run in tweet to his Twitter followers on Nov. 28, but did not rule one out in the future.

The Hollywood veteran has also not declared a political party but has been outspoken about his Christian faith, describing to podcaster Joe Rogan how it had been a point of tension in the secular entertainment industry.