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(#1) Jesse Ventura
- 68
Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura has been quite vocal about being atheist since leaving office in 2003 and he famously refused to declare a National Prayer Day while he was leading the state. He stated in an interview, "Don’t get me wrong. Other people are free to believe in God. They’re free to practice their religion. I don’t begrudge them that."
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(#2) Cecil Bothwell
- 69
Asheville, North Carolina, city council member Cecil Bothwell used an alternative oath when he was sworn into office in 2009 as he is openly atheist. The scandal that erupted made national news. His political opponents objected to his religious views and wanted him removed from office. There was even talks of a lawsuit, but Bothwell continued to serve through 2017.
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(#3) Pete Stark
- 88
US congressman Pete Stark became the first openly atheist member of Congress when he revealed that he was atheist in 2007. After serving for over 40 years, Stark lost his seat in the following election in 2012. This sparked a national debate as to whether atheists are truly electable in American politics.
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(#4) Ernie Chambers
- 82
Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers is one of the longest serving legislators in the state. He was openly atheist during that time and introduced legislation to end state property tax eliminations for religious organizations. He also sued God in 2007 and in 2013, stating that the mafia had higher standards than the Catholic Church.
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(#5) Sean Faircloth
- 55
Atheist author and activist Sean Faircloth has held several offices in Maine, including state representative, state senator, and city councilman. He is running for governor of Maine in 2018.
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(#6) Lori Lipman Brown
- 61
Lori Lipman Brown was a Nevada state senator from 1992 to 1994. She was later hired by the Secular Coalition for America in 2005 and regularly addresses the concerns of atheists with TV appearances.
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(#7) Douglas Campbell
- 60
A prominent player in the Michigan Green Party, who ran for governor of Michigan in 2002 and 2006, Douglass Campbell is an open atheist.
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(#8) Andrew Zwicker
- 55
Andrew Zwicker, of the New Jersey Assembly, ran as an openly atheist candidate in 2015 and won. He was later re-elected in 2017.
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(#9) Culbert Olson
- Dec. at 86 (1876-1962)
California Governor Culbert Olson adjusted his oath of office because of his atheist beliefs. Rather than swear on the bible, he instead kept his hand in his pocket and he refused to say, "So help me God." When a California Supreme Court justice questioned the decision, he stated, "God couldn’t help me at all, and there isn’t any such person, and I will have to just say 'I will affirm.'"
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(#10) Charles T. Beaird
- Dec. at 84 (1922-2006)
A long time member of the Republican Party as well as a prominent newspaper publisher, Beaird was quietly atheist for most of his life and his obituary casually mentioned his lack of faith.
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(#12) Vincent Hallinan
While he worked primarily as an attorney, Vincent Hallinan got political in 1952 as the presidential candidate for the Progressive Party. He was an open atheist, so much so that he once described himself as a "roaring atheist."
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About This Tool
There are very few public atheists in the United States, and a small number of militant atheists will be labeled. As a religiously developed country, openly atheists may indeed be discriminated against in most places. Especially in American politics, atheists often do not talk about this topic publicly, and even find themselves a religious belief. The atheist group, which is not low in proportion, has been silent for a long time.
There were Democratic congressmen who have clearly declared themselves atheists in recent years, but they speak out after departed. The random tool lists 12 famous American politicians in history who have openly been atheists.
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