Numerous politicians over the years haven’t quite lived up to the hopes of the voters who put them in office. In fact, some leaders ended up causing more disappointment than anything else! Here are eleven politicians that many Americans wish they hadn’t elected. It’s so hard when the people trusted to lead end up letting us down—take this as a warning to be careful who you vote for.
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Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon’s presidency took a nosedive with the Watergate scandal that involved people connected to his re-election team breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters. When the cover-up started to unravel, it got messy quite fast and Nixon resigned in 1974. He was the first U.S. president to do so and his actions completely shook people’s trust in the government.
Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich was once the Governor of Illinois & he became infamous for trying to profit from his position. When Barack Obama left his Senate seat, Blagojevich saw dollar signs—he was caught on tape trying to sell the seat to the highest bidder! Blagojevich was eventually impeached & removed from office, later being convicted on federal corruption charges and receiving 14 years in prison.
George Ryan
The Governor of Illinois before Blagojevich, George Ryan, also ended up behind bars after he was convicted of corruption charges. One of the major scandals was the “licenses for bribes” scheme that happened when he was Secretary of State which involved unqualified truck drivers receiving licenses in exchange for bribes. Sadly, this led to fatal accidents.
Anthony Weiner
Anthony Weiner was a rising star as a Congressman from New York—until his sexting scandals came to light. In 2011, explicit photos he sent leaked online & he first denied it but then admitted to inappropriate online relationships with several women. However, Weiner tried for a comeback by running for mayor of New York City in 2013 yet more scandals emerged, including messages sent to a minor. He eventually served prison time for his actions.
Mark Sanford
Former Governor of South Carolina Mark Sanford caused quite a scandal when he disappeared without a trace in 2009. His staff told the public he was hiking the Appalachian Trail but then it emerged that Sanford was actually in Argentina—visiting his mistress! Of course, the deception didn’t sit well with voters because he abandoned his post without notice & also broke their trust.
Marion Barry
As Mayor of Washington D.C., Marion Barry disappointed many voters, even with all he did for the community. In 1990, he was arrested in an FBI sting operation for smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room & he served six months in prison. Many of his constituents felt his actions tarnished the city’s reputation and wished he’d made better choices.
James Traficant
Ohio Congressman James Traficant became well-known for his quirky style & unforgettable hairpiece. But things took a turn when, in 2002, he was expelled from the House after being convicted of bribery, racketeering & tax evasion. He tried to represent himself during the trial yet couldn’t convince the jury of his innocence, with voters back home being shocked to see their representative involved in such serious wrongdoing.
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer made a name for himself as the Governor of New York by cracking down on corruption but, ironically, news broke that he was a client of a high-end prostitution ring. As such, the public was completely shocked that he didn’t practice what he preached & so Spitzer resigned just a year into his term. Many New Yorkers felt mistrustful of someone who had promised honest leadership.
Bob McDonnell
Once upon a time, people saw Bob McDonnell as a promising Governor of Virginia but he got into trouble over ethics violations in 2014. Both he & his wife were convicted of accepting over $175,000 in gifts and loans from a businessman looking for favors. Although the Supreme Court later overturned his conviction in 2016, the damage was done and voters were let down by a leader they had believed in.
John Edwards
Former Senator & vice-presidential nominee John Edwards’s political career crashed and burned after news broke about his personal scandals. While his wife was fighting cancer, he had an affair with a campaign worker—and fathered a child. But it gets worse as he was accused of using campaign funds to cover it up which eventually led to a high-profile trial in 2012. He was acquitted of most charges but his reputation was in tatters.
Kwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Kilpatrick came into office as the Mayor of Detroit with big hopes & promises—unfortunately, his time in office was riddled with corruption. In 2013, he was convicted on 24 federal charges that included racketeering, mail fraud & wire fraud. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison and his misuse of public funds only contributed to Detroit’s financial issues.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.