Patrick Dempsey’s Decision to Skip US Senate Run in Maine

As Democrats in Maine continue to strategize over who could replace Graham Platner on the ballot for U.S. Senate, one name that has been floated has taken himself out of the running: Patrick Dempsey.

In an op-ed published in the Portland Press Herald on Wednesday, Dempsey wrote that he gave ‘real thought’ to a potential bid but ultimately decided against it.

‘After a lot of thought, I realized the answer is no,’ Dempsey 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.’

Dempsey, a native of Maine and founder of the Dempsey Center to assist those impacted by cancer, was floated as a potential replacement for Platner after Platner’s campaign was put on pause following a Politico story on Monday in which a woman he once dated accused him of forcing her to have sex with him. Platner has denied the claims.

Dempsey’s op-ed also touched on the importance of leadership and public service, writing, ‘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,’ Dempsey wrote. ‘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.’

Dempsey’s decision not to run for the US Senate seat in Maine has been met with surprise, given his connections to the state and his work with the Dempsey Center.

However, in his op-ed, Dempsey emphasized that he believes he can contribute more effectively through his existing work and that he is committed to public service, even if it’s not through a run for office.

The next two weeks will be crucial for Maine Democrats, who must choose a new Senate candidate by July 27 if they wish to replace Platner on the ballot.

A number of state officials have expressed interest in the seat, 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.