Television personality Pat O’Brien said Tuesday that he’s open to pursuing public office in his native South Dakota, the Argus Leader reported.
O’Brien raised the possibility during an interview on comedian Adam Carolla’s podcast, saying that one of his political science professors at the University of South Dakota long encouraged him to run for office, which he said he “still may do.”
He did not specify which office he may pursue. South Dakota has both an open U.S. Senate race and a gubernatorial election next year.
O’Brien has covered both entertainment and sports for multiple networks. He hosted “Access Hollywood” from 1997 until 2004. In 2005, O’Brien checked into rehab for alcoholism after several sexually charged voice mail messages surfaced in which the television anchor clearly sounded intoxicated.
