As Democrats strategize over who could replace Graham Platner on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Maine, one name floated has taken himself out of the running: Patrick Dempsey.
In an op-ed in the Portland Press Herald on Wednesday, Dempsey wrote that he gave “real thought” to a potential bid, but decided against it.
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.”
Given his connections as a native of the state and his founding of the Dempsey Center to assist those impacted by cancer, the actor was floated in recent days as a potential replacement for Platner. On the Hacks on Tap podcast Tuesday, co-host and political strategist Mike Murphy indicated that Dempsey was entertaining the idea of a run.
Dempsey wrote, “The next two weeks will be a very important time for Maine. We will choose a new Senate candidate at a time when I believe most of us want meaningful change in Washington, D.C. We should choose a candidate who offers a new approach to how we govern ourselves.
“I want someone who leads with empathy. Someone who listens before speaking, who has the courage to work with people they disagree with and who understands that public office isn’t about power. It’s about service.”
Platner has not dropped out yet, despite widespread calls to do so. He put his campaign on pause in the fallout from a Politico story on Monday, in which a woman he once dated says he forced her to have sex with him. The woman, Jenny Racinot, also spoke to CNN. Platner denied her claims in a video he posted on social media but said that “we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward.”
Platner won the Democratic primary for Senate last month to face Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), whose seat is viewed as the party’s top pickup opportunity if they wish to retake control of the chamber in this year’s midterms.
Platner has until Monday to withdraw if Democrats want to replace him on the ballot. They then would have until July 27 to select a new candidate, although it is unclear what kind of process the party would go through to select a contender. A number of state officials have expressed interest, including Nirav Shah, who led the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention; former Maine State Senate President Troy Jackson; Secretary of State Shenna Bellows; and Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Co.
In his op-ed, Dempsey wrote, “Whether you’re an elected official, a teacher, a nurse, a business owner, a parent or a volunteer, service begins with one simple question: How can I make someone else’s life a little better?
“That’s the work I want to keep doing. So no, I’m not running for office. But I am asking something of the people who do. Lead with humility. Tell the truth. Put people before party.
“Remember that public office is a privilege not a career path and that leadership isn’t measured by how loudly you speak or how often you’re on television. It’s measured by whether people’s lives are better because you served.”
-Deadline
In an op-ed in the Portland Press Herald on Wednesday, Dempsey wrote that he gave “real thought” to a potential bid, but decided against it.
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.”
Given his connections as a native of the state and his founding of the Dempsey Center to assist those impacted by cancer, the actor was floated in recent days as a potential replacement for Platner. On the Hacks on Tap podcast Tuesday, co-host and political strategist Mike Murphy indicated that Dempsey was entertaining the idea of a run.
Dempsey wrote, “The next two weeks will be a very important time for Maine. We will choose a new Senate candidate at a time when I believe most of us want meaningful change in Washington, D.C. We should choose a candidate who offers a new approach to how we govern ourselves.
“I want someone who leads with empathy. Someone who listens before speaking, who has the courage to work with people they disagree with and who understands that public office isn’t about power. It’s about service.”
Platner has not dropped out yet, despite widespread calls to do so. He put his campaign on pause in the fallout from a Politico story on Monday, in which a woman he once dated says he forced her to have sex with him. The woman, Jenny Racinot, also spoke to CNN. Platner denied her claims in a video he posted on social media but said that “we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward.”
Platner won the Democratic primary for Senate last month to face Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), whose seat is viewed as the party’s top pickup opportunity if they wish to retake control of the chamber in this year’s midterms.
Platner has until Monday to withdraw if Democrats want to replace him on the ballot. They then would have until July 27 to select a new candidate, although it is unclear what kind of process the party would go through to select a contender. A number of state officials have expressed interest, including Nirav Shah, who led the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention; former Maine State Senate President Troy Jackson; Secretary of State Shenna Bellows; and Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Co.
In his op-ed, Dempsey wrote, “Whether you’re an elected official, a teacher, a nurse, a business owner, a parent or a volunteer, service begins with one simple question: How can I make someone else’s life a little better?
“That’s the work I want to keep doing. So no, I’m not running for office. But I am asking something of the people who do. Lead with humility. Tell the truth. Put people before party.
“Remember that public office is a privilege not a career path and that leadership isn’t measured by how loudly you speak or how often you’re on television. It’s measured by whether people’s lives are better because you served.”
-Deadline
