Former World Wrestling Federation star James George Janos — better known as Jesse "The Body" Ventura — ran for mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minn., in 1990 and bumped out the city's incumbent, who had held office for 25 years. In 1998, Ventura ran for governor of Minnesota for the Reform Party, before later switching to the Independence Party.

His grassroots campaign was highly successful and included slogans such as "Don't vote for politics as usual," with one ad featuring Ventura posing as Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker" earning him the new nickname of Jesse "The Mind" Ventura. Following his win, the slogan "My governor can beat up your governor" was emblazoned on bumper stickers and T-shirts across Minnesota. Ventura served from 1999 to 2003, but did not seek a second term.

Before Ventura ran for governor, he starred in the 1987 science fiction action movie "Predator." His castmates included future  California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and future U.S. Senate and Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Sonny Landham.