An aspiring congresswoman, former actress Stacey Dash, 51, filed to run as a Republican in California’s 44th district this past February. She claimed that she was “going to fight for that change. It’s a labor of love for me. Why I decided to do it now? God. That’s why. It’s perfect timing. We need to keep the House.” Her campaign slogan was “Dash to DC.”
On Friday, she posted on Twitter her decision to withdraw. She said it wasn’t an “easy” decision. And added, “holding elected office would be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of my family.
“The people living here deserve better. I will continue to speak out about these and other problems facing this district, as well as the distractions that take the place of real change.
“I am grateful for the prayers, love and support I have received. Deciding to withdraw my candidacy was a difficult choice, but I have to go where I feel God is leading me.”
Here’s her statement in full:
“After much prayer, introspection and discussions with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy for California’s 44th Congressional District.
“I started this run with the intention to address the pressing issues in the district where I live. I hoped, and remain hopeful, that I can assist people living here on the national level. My goal was, and remains, to improve the lives of people who have been forgotten for decades by the Democratic Party.
“At this point, I believe that the overall bitterness surrounding our political process, participating in the rigors of campaigning, and holding elected office would be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of my family. I would never want to betray the personal and spiritual principles I believe in most: that my God and my family come first.
“My political positions have often been labelled as controversial, but the real controversy is how decades of government corruption and political disempowerment have created a system where skyrocketing home prices, dirty needles in the streets, and long bus trips to other districts for jobs are somehow considered acceptable by the government officials representing the 44th District.”
