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It was something that not even world Wrestling Federation ringleader Vince McMahon could have dreamt up. On Nov. 3, 1998, former Navy SEAL, radio-show host, actor, and most notably, boa-clad grappler Jesse ''The Body'' Ventura was elected governor of Minnesota on the Reform Party ticket.
Beating candidates from two major parties, as well as the expectations of just about everyone, the 47-year-old was suddenly the most famous governor in the nation -- and the only pro wrestler ever to hold so high a public office.
The competition was fierce: Ventura took on Attorney General and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate Hubert Humphrey III (the son of the former Veep) and the Republican mayor of St. Paul, Norm Coleman. His plan was simple: Keep it clean. ''The reason he's so popular is because he's sincere and straightforward,'' says Ventura's press secretary, John Wodele. Before the election, Ventura responded to accusations that he wasn't qualified by telling the Today show's Matt Lauer: ''All it says in the rule book is 'Be over 25 and live in the state for one year.' I'm qualified.''
Born James Janos on July 15, 1951, in Minneapolis, the governor-to-be spent six years in the Navy before receiving an honorable discharge. After a brief tour of duty at a community college, he began a wrestling career under his now-famous nom de slam. He became one of the WWF's biggest stars, but his 11-year career was cut short. The reason: aftereffects of reported exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Ventura would try his hand at acting, appearing in 1987 films Predator and The Running Man, but nothing held his attention like wrestling. He ventured into politics, winning an election as mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minn., in 1990. Exasperated by the state's overtaxation, Ventura took his shot at higher office.
But since Ventura's astounding victory in November 1998, he has surprised Minnesotans with a number of peculiar gaffes (e.g., wondering aloud if prostitution should be decriminalized, a 1999 Playboy interview in which he was quoted as saying religion is ''a crutch for weak-minded people,'' and his brief tenure as a color commentator for McMahon's ill-fated XFL football league). ''His bombast would be almost comical if you didn't remind yourself that this guy's the governor,'' wrote Doug Grow last month in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. Nevertheless, Ventura's approval numbers remain high.
But will there be a round 2 for Ventura, whose term ends in 2002? Wodele confirms that the governor won't announce any plans for a reelection run until June of next year. ''He would probably return to entertainment if he decides to leave office. But I doubt he'll go back to the ring.'' Whatever happens, clearly there's no counting out ''The Body.''
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