Actor Patrick Dempsey said Wednesday that he will not run for a , quashing speculation that the 鈥淕rey鈥檚 Anatomy鈥� star and People magazine’s former was among those being considered to replace embattled Democratic nominee Graham Platner.
Platner has currently paused his campaign to mull withdrawing from the high-stakes Senate race following an accusation from a former girlfriend that he once sexually assaulted her. The oyster farmer and Marine veteran, who denies the allegation, had in June to go up against longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.
In an editorial published in the Portland Press Herald, Dempsey wrote that Mainers are facing challenges including housing, healthcare and education, and whoever is elected as Maine’s next senator should work to enact meaningful change.
鈥淎s I reflected on all of this, I kept coming back to one question: Do I truly want to serve in Congress?鈥� Dempsey wrote. 鈥淎fter a lot of thought, I realized the answer is no. Not because public service isn鈥檛 honorable 鈥� it absolutely is. But because I believe I can contribute more effectively through the life I鈥檝e already built.鈥�
Dempsey did not endorse any other candidate from those currently teasing their interest in replacing Platner, nor did he name Platner. Instead, he wrote that the candidate should offer 鈥渁 new approach to how we govern ourselves.鈥�
鈥淢ost of all, I want integrity. That may sound idealistic today, but it shouldn鈥檛,鈥� he added.
Dempsey grew up in the Lewiston-Auburn area and is the founder of The Dempsey Center in Maine, which provides free care to people impacted by cancer.
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