If you have an astronaut to run, you run that astronaut, that’s just good politics
BigDaddyCoolDeisel on
As of 2025, at least 8 astronauts have run for the United States Congress, and 6 of them have won elections to either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.
Here’s a breakdown:
✅ Astronauts who ran and won:
1. John Glenn (Democrat – Ohio)
NASA Mercury & Shuttle astronaut.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974, served four terms (1974–1999).
2. Jack Swigert (Republican – Colorado)
Apollo 13 astronaut.
Elected to the U.S. House in 1982 but died of cancer before taking office.
3. Harrison “Jack” Schmitt (Republican – New Mexico)
Apollo 17 astronaut and geologist.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976, served one term (1977–1983).
4. Mark Kelly (Democrat – Arizona)
Space Shuttle astronaut.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in a 2020 special election and reelected in 2022.
5. Jake Garn (Republican – Utah)
U.S. Senator first, flew on Space Shuttle as payload specialist in 1985.
Although not a NASA astronaut, he was elected before flying, so technically a member of Congress who went to space, not an astronaut who ran.
6. Bill Nelson (Democrat – Florida)
Congressman when he flew on the Space Shuttle in 1986.
Served in the U.S. House and later the Senate; now NASA Administrator.
Like Garn, he was already in office before going to space.
> ✳️ Mark Kelly, John Glenn, and Jack Schmitt are the most prominent cases of astronauts who ran for Congress after spaceflight and won.
❌ Astronauts who ran and lost:
1. José Hernández (Democrat – California)
Space Shuttle astronaut.
Ran for U.S. House in 2012 and lost to incumbent Jeff Denham.
2. Walt Cunningham (Republican – Texas)
Apollo 7 astronaut.
Ran unsuccessfully in a 1970s Republican primary for Congress.
—
Summary:
Total who ran: At least 8
Won election (post-spaceflight): 3 (Glenn, Schmitt, Kelly)
Died before taking office: 1 (Swigert)
Ran but lost: 2 (Hernández, Cunningham)
Congressmen who flew after being elected: 2 (Garn, Nelson) — not counted in “astronauts who ran” since their candidacy came before their flight
Let me know if you’d like a visual timeline or bios of each candidate.
4 Comments
Absolutely hell yeah
If you have an astronaut to run, you run that astronaut, that’s just good politics
As of 2025, at least 8 astronauts have run for the United States Congress, and 6 of them have won elections to either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.
Here’s a breakdown:
✅ Astronauts who ran and won:
1. John Glenn (Democrat – Ohio)
NASA Mercury & Shuttle astronaut.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974, served four terms (1974–1999).
2. Jack Swigert (Republican – Colorado)
Apollo 13 astronaut.
Elected to the U.S. House in 1982 but died of cancer before taking office.
3. Harrison “Jack” Schmitt (Republican – New Mexico)
Apollo 17 astronaut and geologist.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976, served one term (1977–1983).
4. Mark Kelly (Democrat – Arizona)
Space Shuttle astronaut.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in a 2020 special election and reelected in 2022.
5. Jake Garn (Republican – Utah)
U.S. Senator first, flew on Space Shuttle as payload specialist in 1985.
Although not a NASA astronaut, he was elected before flying, so technically a member of Congress who went to space, not an astronaut who ran.
6. Bill Nelson (Democrat – Florida)
Congressman when he flew on the Space Shuttle in 1986.
Served in the U.S. House and later the Senate; now NASA Administrator.
Like Garn, he was already in office before going to space.
> ✳️ Mark Kelly, John Glenn, and Jack Schmitt are the most prominent cases of astronauts who ran for Congress after spaceflight and won.
❌ Astronauts who ran and lost:
1. José Hernández (Democrat – California)
Space Shuttle astronaut.
Ran for U.S. House in 2012 and lost to incumbent Jeff Denham.
2. Walt Cunningham (Republican – Texas)
Apollo 7 astronaut.
Ran unsuccessfully in a 1970s Republican primary for Congress.
—
Summary:
Total who ran: At least 8
Won election (post-spaceflight): 3 (Glenn, Schmitt, Kelly)
Died before taking office: 1 (Swigert)
Ran but lost: 2 (Hernández, Cunningham)
Congressmen who flew after being elected: 2 (Garn, Nelson) — not counted in “astronauts who ran” since their candidacy came before their flight
Let me know if you’d like a visual timeline or bios of each candidate.
This would be unequivocally gigabased.