Hill Harper, the actor who plays Dr. Marcus Andrews on the hit ABC show The Good Doctor, has announced his bid for the U.S. Senate in Michigan. Harper, a lawyer and a single father, is joining the Democratic primary race to replace the retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
Harper made his announcement on Monday with a video on social media, where he said he wants to make the government work for the people, not for special interests or big donors. He also said he wants to tackle the issues of gun violence, economic inequality, and climate change.
Harper is best known for his roles on The Good Doctor and CSI: NY, but he also has a background in law and activism. He graduated from Brown University with Latin honors and Harvard Law School. He has written several books on personal empowerment and social justice. He has also founded several organizations, such as the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, which provides mentorship and scholarships to at-risk youth.
Harper faces a tough challenge in the primary, where he will compete against Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official who is seen as a top contender. Harper told CNN that he is not deterred by the competition, and that he believes many Michiganders are looking for a fresh and bold voice to represent them.
If Harper wins the primary, he will likely face a Republican nominee in the general election. Michigan is a key battleground state that flipped from Donald Trump in 2016 to Joe Biden in 2020. Democrats are hoping to hold on to the seat and maintain their slim majority in the Senate.
Harper said he is ready to take on the challenge and to serve the people of Michigan. He said he is inspired by his son, whom he adopted in 2017, and whom he dedicated his campaign video to.
“You see the world you’re growing up in doesn’t feel like it’s getting any better, it’s getting more divisive and more dangerous,” Harper said in the video. “I’m running for Senate because I want to change that.
