Top 5 Poker Pros Who Would Make Excellent Politicians

Successful poker players can control their impulses, they have a knack for psychological warfare, and they know when to hold them and when to fold them, making them excellent candidates for political office. If more politicians had the skills needed to be a professional poker player there is no doubt that they would get a lot more done. While poker and politics usually don’t mix I thought it would be a lot of fun to make a list of the professional poker players we think would make the best politicians. Since politics can be a dicey issue, especially in the states, I would like to add the following disclaimer:

This article is based on the opinion of the article's author and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of PokerShark.com or its parent company, Orlando Affiliate Publishing Inc. Now that we have that out of the way, let's get started!

5. Linda Johnson

Known as the “First Lady of Poker” Johnson shares the same affinity for pant suits as another first lady. A poker pro who never relied on her looks to get ahead in the game, she has been involved in almost every facet of the poker industry. From working as a Publisher for CardPlayer Magazine to advocating poker player rights as a member of the PPA, Johnson has proven she can be successful at almost anything she puts her mind to. While her plate might be a little full what with working as a Poker Relations Consultant for the WPT, organizing Card Player Cruises, advocating for the PPA, and running PokerGives.org along with a few of her fellow poker pros, I think if she took the time to get involved in politics she could make a very good politician.

4. Doyle Brunson

Some might say his age would affect his ability to run for office but hey if John McCain can run for president then Brunson can certainly run for a smaller office. A down to earth guy from humble origins Brunson is just the kind of guy that voters would like to kick back and have a beer with. A devote Christian and outspoken conservative Brunson could easily run on a Republican ticket though his passion for poker could keep some on the extreme right from voting for him.

3. Andy Bloch

One of the most well educated players in the industry, Bloch earned two electrical engineering degrees from MIT and a JD from Harvard Law School before deciding to play poker professionally. A passionate Democrat, Bloch isn't afraid to voice his concerns. In 2003 he made headlines for being part of an anti-war protest outside of the white house. He was arrested but successfully defended himself in court and since then he has spoken out on a number of different issues. A noted philanthropist, Bloch regularly raises money for charity hosting charity poker tournaments and donating all of his winnings on Full Tilt to charitable organizations. While he definitely has the passion and the brains for politics, Bloch seems pretty happy with his life at the moment.

2. Vanessa Selbst

Still relatively young, Selbst has a lot of potential on the political landscape. She graduated from Yale with a political science major and is currently attending Yale Law School so she definitely is knowledgeable and passionate about politics. An advocate for social justice, Selbst is very active on the political scene campaigning for equal rights for LGBTQs and other minorities. Though she may experience some prejudice because she is a lesbian, I have no doubt that if she put her mind to it she could become a very accomplished politician. After all, It hasn’t stopped other politicians from accomplishing their goals.

1. Annie Duke

An industry icon, Annie Duke is one of the most multi-talented poker players in the business. A Columbia University grad, Duke is an author, poker commentator, tournament director, professional player, reality TV star, and entrepreneur. Known for her charitable works and winning smile, Duke has shown that she can not only draw attention to important issues but that she is not afraid to protect herself from personal attacks. She clearly knows how to juggle a lot of things at once and always manages to look calm and poised in the process. When I asked our readers which poker pro would make the best politician, Annie Duke easily made the top of the list.

Honorable Mentions: Greg Raymer, Chris Ferguson, Mike Sexton, and Howard Lederer

There is no doubt that the poker industry is full of politically savvy poker pros. While most keep their political opinions to themselves, many do as much as they can to help their causes. I only used American poker pros for the list simply because those are the pros I'm most familiar with as a US citizen. I have no doubt that poker pros from around the world would make great politicians in their homelands.

So what do you think? Would you vote for any of our choices? Is there a poker pro we left off the list that you would love to see run for office? Let us know by leaving a comment below!