Matthew McConaughey is talking politics on social media—and social media users are urging him not to.

The Texas actor took to X to post a video in which he urged voters to consider independent candidates ahead of the midterm elections.

“They’ve been telling us for years that an independent vote is a wasted vote,” McConaughey said in the October 18 video. “Well, a great question for our time is: How’s that unwasted vote been working out for you?”

The comments arrive just weeks before the 2026 midterms, which feature several tight races across the country, including one in McConaughey’s own home state of Texas—where disgraced Attorney General Ken Paxton is running against Democratic nominee James Talarico for U.S. Senate.

McConaughey continued in the six-minute monologue, making the argument for embracing a non-Democrat or non-Republican.

“Here’s a fact: The number one political identity in America today is not Republican. It is not Democrat. It is independent. There are more of us than either party, so independents belong in the fight. Not as a protest, not as a spoiler, but as a real and potential winner,” the Interstellar actor said.

While the messaging taps into real concerns about political polarization and partisan primary systems, most of the those reacting to the video were quick to reject McConaughey’s call for independent voting, criticizing him for encouraging voters to split the vote.

The video had nearly 6 million views as of midday on Tuesday.

Many took offense to the actor’s advice due to his lack of expertise in politics.

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