Actor Patrick Dempsey announced Wednesday that he has no intention of seeking a Maine U.S. Senate seat, putting an end to rumors that the “Grey’s Anatomy” star — and former People magazine Sexiest Man Alive — was being considered as a potential replacement for Democratic nominee Graham Platner.
Platner has temporarily suspended his campaign while he considers whether to withdraw from the competitive Senate race. A former girlfriend has accused him of sexual assault, an allegation he denies. The oyster farmer and Marine veteran earned the Democratic nomination in June to challenge longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the November election.
Writing in an op-ed published in the Portland Press Herald, Dempsey acknowledged that Maine residents are confronting serious issues such as housing, healthcare, and education. He argued that whoever wins the Senate seat must be committed to delivering real, meaningful change for the state.
“As I reflected on all of this, I kept coming back to one question: Do I truly want to serve in Congress?” Dempsey wrote. “After a lot of thought, I realized the answer is no. Not because public service isn’t honorable — it absolutely is. But because I believe I can contribute more effectively through the life I’ve already built.”
Dempsey stopped short of throwing his support behind any of the individuals who have signaled interest in stepping into Platner’s place, and he did not mention Platner by name. He did say that the right candidate should bring “a new approach to how we govern ourselves.”
“Most of all, I want integrity. That may sound idealistic today, but it shouldn’t,” he added.
Dempsey was raised in the Lewiston-Auburn area of Maine and founded The Dempsey Center, a nonprofit that offers free services to individuals and families affected by cancer.
