Ben McKenzie political run teased amid crypto fight in Washington
Ben McKenzie told TMZ he might run for office if anger over crypto lobbying pushes him there after a Capitol Hill visit.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Ben McKenzie political run chatter got a fresh jolt on Capitol Hill, where the “O.C.” actor told TMZ he has not ruled out seeking office if his fight over crypto policy keeps heating up.
McKenzie was in Washington on Monday to testify against the CLARITY Act, according to TMZ. The actor, who has become an outspoken critic of the cryptocurrency industry, was asked by TMZ producer Charlie Cotton whether his repeated trips to Washington could turn into a political career.
McKenzie said he hopes it does not reach that point, but he left the door open. “If I get so mad, I might do it,” he told TMZ.
Cotton raised 2028 as a possibility, according to TMZ, and McKenzie did not give a flat rejection. Instead, the actor criticized politicians who, in his view, accept money from crypto lobbyists and then support laws that help the industry.
Is Ben McKenzie running for political office?
McKenzie has not announced a campaign, according to TMZ’s report. His comments were a tease, not a launch, and he framed any possible run as something that could happen only if his frustration with crypto politics grows.
The moment still stood out because McKenzie has spent the past few years moving well beyond actor-on-a-soapbox territory. TMZ reported that his interest in crypto during the pandemic led to a book, a movie and testimony before the Senate.
McKenzie studied economics, according to TMZ, and has used that background in his public criticism of celebrity crypto promotion and the industry’s political influence. The report said that stance has made him a target for crypto supporters.
What is the CLARITY Act fight about?
The CLARITY Act is the crypto-related legislation McKenzie was opposing during his Washington appearance, according to TMZ. The report says McKenzie argued that politicians who receive crypto-lobby money are backing measures that benefit the industry.
TMZ did not report that McKenzie named a party switch, office, district or campaign team. The only timeline floated in the exchange was 2028, and that came from Cotton’s question, not a formal plan from McKenzie.
For fans of “The O.C.,” TMZ drew a neat line from fiction to Washington. McKenzie played Ryan Atwood, the outsider dropped into Newport Beach privilege, and the report noted the contrast with his current public target: wealthy and politically connected crypto interests.
McKenzie’s acting career remains the reason many know him, but his crypto criticism is now the thing putting him in hearing rooms. If he ever does move from testimony to ballots, Monday’s Capitol Hill exchange may be remembered as the first public wink.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.