Quick, slippery and especially explosive in the Buckeye State, former NFL and Ohio State wide receiver Anthony Gonzales may have found a perfect window in his new zone of politics. The Indianapolis Colts’ 2007 first-round pick may be the top pick of voters in Ohio’s 16th United States Congressional District.
If Gonzales’ political skill-sets are right, he avoids missteps and runs hard enough, the 33 year-old is likely to score and celebrate on Capitol Hill. His first down was pushing through a tough Republican primary in May.
The Ohio 16th is a conservative district, in a part of the state that went heavily for now-President Donald Trump. A working class area, perhaps sending its current representative Jim Renacci (R) back to Washington D.C. as U.S. Senator, the 16th is very GOP friendly.
Previous Football Players Turned Politicians
Gonzalaz’ future may mirror that of another former NFL first-round pick, Heath Shuler, drafted by Washington in 1994. The former NFL and Tennessee Volunteers quarterback returned to the Nation’s Capitol after his injury-hampered career – this time a Blue Dog Democrat, winning the North Carolina’s 11th U.S. Congressional District.
Shuler, hailing from Knoxville’s nearby Bryson City, North Carolina, won over similar voters in his native state. The GOP’s Gonzales will have to the same – speaking to similar reactionary themes of vocational opportunities and changing values.
Both areas and candidates are similar, in education and occupational opportunities.
Shuler served in Congress from 2007-2013. The times, nor demographics, have changed much in years since. What got Shuler’s foot in the political door may serve Gonzalez in similar ways.
Other homegrown college football or pro stars, like former University of Oklahoma’s exceptional quarterback J.C. Watts (R), whom won the state’s Fourth U.S. Congressional District after growing up in McIntosh County. He won preaching conservative points and won as a conservative in 1994.
University of Tulsa star wide receiver and NFL Hall of Famer Steve Largent (R) also dashed to Capitol Hill. Using Oklahoma’s First U.S. Congressional District for a starting block and catching onto a conservative reactionary platform during the GOP’s ride into D.C in 1994 with Newt Gingrich and the “Contract With America”.
Gonzales’ Run
Hailing from the Buckeye-obsessed state, Gonzalez (R) easily ran past GOP primary challengers Christina Hagan (a current state senator) and Michael Grusenmeyer ,
gobbling-up 53 percent of the vote in the three-way race. One of the largest issues, besides his fame, that helped him is the Ohio 16th has never elected a woman for the seat.
That seeming “no ladies allowed” voting history will likely help Gonzalez in November’s general election. He’ll face Democratic candidate Susan Moran Palmer. Another reason the rookie politician could go all the way: the district has elected only one Democrat since 1951 – a one termer.
Going deeper, Trump’s up-and-down favorability ratings should not slow the former Colt. Gonzalez ran to the left of his GOP primary opponents – also opening up the possibility of attracting moderate and younger voters closer to the middle. While injuries stymied his NFL career, the 16th district just happens to include Canton. That can’t be a bad thing in the hyper football-friendly area.
For these reasons, plus his personal charm, Gonzalez looks like the Ohio district’s first-round pick come November.
