Actor Matthew McConaughey has publicly considered a Texas gubernatorial run in 2022 and may have a stronger chance than initially thought. A poll released Sunday by the Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas Tyler showed McConaughey with a solid lead over incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

Of the 1,126 registered voters surveyed McConaughey received 45%, while Abbott received 33% and 22% said they didn't know.

The 51-year-old said on CNBC that he is seriously considering running for governor.

“I’m not teasing the idea — I’m actually looking at the idea and giving it serious consideration,” McConaughey told CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla. “I have a new chapter for myself, personally in my life. I believe it is in some sort of leadership role. I don’t know what that role is. I don’t know my category. We’ve been talking about the ‘why’ of leadership and even, I would say, we need some more good leaders.”

McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film. The Academy Award winner is a minority owner of Major League Soccer team Austin FC.

Some on social media shared their opinions about McConaughey's political aspirations.

McConaughey describes his political leanings as “aggressively centrist," per his "Greenlights" novel.

The poll showed that 66% of Democrats said they would vote for McConaughey. He also received 44% of independents and 30% of Republicans.

Abbott has served as governor since 2015. It's unclear if Democrat Robert "Beto" O'Rourke will run for governor after a strong senate campaign in 2018 against Republican Ted Cruz.

Matthew McConaughey
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 21: Matthew McConaughey participates in a Q&A after a special screening of his new film "The Gentlemen" at Hogg Memorial Auditorium at The University of Texas at Austin on January 21, 2020 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images) Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images
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