Ventura's Reform/Independence Party campaign was considered by many to be a gimmick but in 1998 he emerged as the winner when voters expressed their disdain with the two major parties in Minnesota. The former professional wrestler was elected the Governor of Minnesota.

However, despite remaining popular with the voters, he backed out in June 2002 claiming his "heart and soul" wasn't in the job. Often criticised for extorting his popularity over his political ideas, his tagline in the Schwarzenegger film 'Predator', "I ain't got time to bleed" became the title of his first of four books.