Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson is perhaps better known for playing a lawyer on television than for being a Tennessee Senator in real life. Thompson started in politics, turned to acting, turned back to politics, then again to acting and now he’s running for elected office again. He is one of many in American history who have switched between the two career paths.

Fred ThompsonThompson is not the only well-known actor running for office in 2008. Among the candidates for the Minnesota Senate race is comedian and Democrat Al Franken. He too has been politically active for years and started a political action committee that has raised more than a million dollars for Democratic candidates.

Interested in knowing how Al Franken will do? As part of its State and Local politics project, USINFO will be following the races that matter to residents of the Minnesota 1st Congressional District – stay tuned for updates.

Who else has gone from Hollywood to Washington? Find out more here.