Patrick Dempsey will not be running for the United States Senate in Maine.
The actor, who was born and raised in the state and operates The Dempsey Center, a cancer treatment nonprofit, published a statement in the Portland Press Herald on Wednesday addressing calls for him to enter the race as a replacement for Democratic nominee Graham Platner. Platner has faced mounting pressure to withdraw following rape allegations and a separate series of scandals including allegations of extramarital sexting, a Nazi tattoo, physical misconduct, and offensive remarks. The Maine Democratic Party and Senator Bernie Sanders have been among those calling for Platner to step aside.
Dempsey confirmed he gave the question serious consideration.
"Over the past several days, I've been asked a question more than once: Would you ever run for the United States Senate?" he wrote. "It's flattering, and I don't take it lightly. I love my home state of Maine. I care deeply about the people who live there and, like so many Americans, I'm concerned about the direction our country is heading. I gave it real thought."
He said the reflection led him to a more fundamental question about what kind of leadership Maine actually needs right now. After thinking through his options, he arrived at a clear answer.
"As I reflected on all of this, I kept coming back to one question: Do I truly want to serve in Congress? After a lot of thought, I realized the answer is no," he wrote. "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."
The Grey's Anatomy alum did not simply decline and move on. He used the statement to lay out what he wants to see from whoever does end up on the ballot.
"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," he continued. "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. Most of all, I want integrity. That may sound idealistic today, but it shouldn't."
He closed with a direct message to whoever does step forward.
"Lead with humility. Tell the truth. Put people before party," he wrote. "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."
He added: "That's the kind of leadership Maine deserves. It's the kind of leadership America deserves, too."
According to The Wrap, the party has two weeks to choose a replacement candidate, making the timeline for a decision short.
