Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described a recent video by actor Matthew McConaughey as unfortunate, arguing that his encouragement for voters to support independent candidates could complicate Democratic efforts to defeat President Donald Trump in the upcoming midterm elections.
The criticism emerged during a Wednesday interview on the podcast "High Stakes," hosted by liberal journalist Kara Swisher. McConaughey had shared a video on Instagram over the weekend challenging the common belief that voting for an independent candidate is a wasted effort. In the clip, he argued that even a small number of independent lawmakers could significantly alter the political dynamics in Washington.
McConaughey questioned the long-standing advice that such votes are ineffective, asking if that strategy has actually benefited voters. Swisher noted to Clinton that she did not believe McConaughey had articulated the appeal of independent candidates clearly enough for viewers. Clinton took a harder line, stating that it was regrettable for someone with McConaughey's reach to suggest independent candidates were a better choice two weeks before an election focused on stopping Trump's corruption and extreme damage to the country.
Clinton emphasized that a broad range of Democrats are currently running and represent various types of Americans. She asserted that if voters do not choose Democrats to defeat Republicans, Trump will have two more unchecked years to act without constraint.
Fox News Digital contacted McConaughey's representative for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Both Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have recently increased their campaign activities for Democratic candidates. While Bill Clinton has made public appearances for candidates, Hillary Clinton has focused on the podcast circuit with Swisher. This strategy has drawn mixed reactions from within the party. Democratic strategist Mally Smith told Fox News Digital last week that while the Clintons remain relevant to some voters, their utility is largely limited to speaking to the Democratic base and highly engaged citizens. Smith added that the current media environment makes it difficult for even current elected officials to capture public attention, suggesting former office holders will face similar challenges.