Patrick Dempsey rules out running for Senate seat in Maine
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Actor Patrick Dempsey has ruled out running for the U.S. Senate in Maine, removing his name from the list of potential Democratic candidates being considered. In an op-ed published in the Portland Press Herald, the Maine native said he had given "real thought" to a bid but concluded that he could contribute more effectively through the life he has already built. His decision matters because Democrats are urgently searching for a replacement candidate for the seat, which is viewed as their top pickup opportunity in this year's midterms.
Dempsey's name had been floated as a possible substitute for Graham Platner, who won the Democratic primary last month to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins but has paused his campaign following a Politico report in which a former partner, Jenny Racinot, accused him of forcing her to have sex; Platner has denied the claims. Platner has until Monday to withdraw from the ballot, after which Democrats would have until 27 July to select a new contender, though the selection process remains unclear. Other figures who have expressed interest include former Maine CDC head Nirav Shah, ex-State Senate President Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and Maine Beer Co. founder Dan Kleban.
- Patrick Dempsey has declined to run for Senate in Maine.
- Democrats seek a replacement for embattled candidate Graham Platner.
- The Maine seat is Democrats' top midterm pickup target.
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Democrats hold both of Maine's US Senate seats after 2024, but this year's midterm race for the seat currently held by Republican Susan Collins has become unusually complicated. Graham Platner won the Democratic primary to challenge her, but has paused his campaign after a former partner accused him of sexual assault, an allegation he denies. That has left the party scrambling to find a replacement candidate, given how important this seat is seen to be for their chances of winning back the Senate.
Patrick Dempsey is an American actor, best known for his role in the television series Grey's Anatomy, who grew up in Maine. His name had come up as one of several possible substitute candidates for the Senate seat, alongside figures such as Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former state health official Nirav Shah. Dempsey has no political track record, so his potential candidacy had been notable largely because of his celebrity status and local roots rather than any established political career.
Dempsey has now said publicly that he will not run, explaining that he considered the idea seriously but decided he could do more good through his existing work and life. This narrows the field of possible replacements for Democrats, who face a tight deadline to settle on a candidate before the seat's ballot position must be finalised.
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Originally published by Deadline as “Patrick Dempsey Says He Gave “Real Thought” To U.S. Senate Run In Maine, But Decided Against It”.