5 Notable Lefties Who Are On The Political Right

Ronald Reagan and George Pataki are among the political Southpaws.

ByABC News
August 13, 2015, 7:26 PM
Rand Paul is seen at an event in Urbandale, Iowa on Aug. 6, 2014, Ronald Reagan is pictured in 1985, and John McCain attends an event in Como, Italy, Sept. 5, 2014.
Rand Paul is seen at an event in Urbandale, Iowa on Aug. 6, 2014, Ronald Reagan is pictured in 1985, and John McCain attends an event in Como, Italy, Sept. 5, 2014.
Getty Images

— -- Thursday is International Left Handers Day! And even though left-handed people make up about 10 percent of the population, many recent presidential candidates -– and occupants of the Oval Office -– have been Southpaws.

Several recent presidents like Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford, not to mention current President Obama -– have signed bills into law using their left hand.

Happy #LeftHandersDay. Being a lefty president has nothing to do with party. pic.twitter.com/TW9Glf2hrr

White House History (@WhiteHouseHstry) August 13, 2015

And while some left-handers do fall left of center, like Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, many famous politicians on the right, including some 2016 White House contenders.

Here are five lefties whose politics fall to the right-of-center:

1. Rand Paul

PHOTO: Sen. Paul Rand announces his presidential bid, April 7, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Sen. Paul Rand announces his presidential bid, April 7, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Kentucky Senator and Republican 2016 presidential contender would be leading the nation with his left hand if he’s elected to the Oval Office in 2016. The Southpaw has an uphill climb, placing 6th in New Hampshire and 7th in Iowa in two polls out this week.

2. George H.W. Bush

PHOTO: President George H. W. Bush Signs the Americans with Disabilities Act, July 26, 1990.
President George H. W. Bush Signs the Americans with Disabilities Act, July 26, 1990.

The 40th President signed bills into law using his left hand at the Resolute Desk. His son, George W. Bush, who followed in his footsteps, was right-handed.

3. John McCain

PHOTO: ABC's David Muir speaks with Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush, June 17, 2015, before a town hall meeting in Pella, Iowa.
ABC's David Muir speaks with Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush, June 17, 2015, before a town hall meeting in Pella, Iowa.

The 2008 Republican nominee and sitting Senator from Arizona is a Southpaw.

4. George Pataki

PHOTO: President Ronald Reagan signs legislation to create a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Rose Garden of the White House, Nov. 2, 1983.
President Ronald Reagan signs legislation to create a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Rose Garden of the White House, Nov. 2, 1983.

The former New York Governor who is pursuing the White House in 2016 is a lefty. But Pataki is polling at less than 1 percent in a recent CNN/ORC poll in Iowa.

5. Ronald Reagan (mostly)

He told Left Handed Magazine that he had been born left-handed but switched to his right hand after pressure from teachers and parents. Here he is signing a bill with his right hand.

Honorable Mention. Jeb Bush (kind of)

Bush writes with his right hand, but the Texas Tribune reports that the former Florida governor batted left-handed in little league and pickup games in his backyard.

And while some left-handers do fall left of center, like Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, many famous politicians on the right, including some 2016 White House contenders.

Here are five lefties whose politics fall to the right-of-center:

1. Rand Paul

The Kentucky Senator and Republican 2016 presidential contender would be leading the nation with his left hand if he’s elected to the Oval Office in 2016. The Southpaw has an uphill climb, placing 6th in New Hampshire and 7th in Iowa in two polls out this week.

2.\tGeorge H.W. Bush

The 40th President signed bills into law using his left hand at the Resolute Desk. His son, George W. Bush, who followed in his footsteps, was right-handed.

3.\tJohn McCain

The 2008 Republican nominee and sitting Senator from Arizona is a Southpaw.

4.\tGeorge Pataki

The former New York Governor who is pursuing the White House in 2016 is a lefty. But Pataki is polling at less than 1 percent in a recent CNN/ORC poll in Iowa.

5.\tRonald Reagan (mostly)

He told Left Handed Magazine that he had been born left-handed but switched to his right hand after pressure from teachers and parents. Here he is signing a bill with his right hand.

Honorable Mention.\tJeb Bush (kind of)

Bush writes with his right hand, but the Texas Tribune reports that the former Florida governor batted left-handed in little league and pickup games in his backyard.

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