‘The Good Doctor’ Star Hill Harper Not Returning To The ABC Drama Amid His Senate Race Run

Hill Harper is hoping to trade in his scalpel for a Senate seat. The Good Doctor star has declared his exit from the ABC drama while he pursues the U.S. Senate race in the state of Michigan, per TVLine.

A spokesperson confirmed the news to the outlet with the following statement:

“Hill Harper feels strongly that there is a crisis in American democracy — too often, government only works for the rich and powerful while the rest of us struggle to find a voice,” they shared. “Hill is dedicating his efforts full time to fixing that, and he’s running for the U.S. Senate as an active union member to give working people more of a voice in Congress.”

Decider has reached out to ABC for comment, but did not hear back by time of publication.

Harper has played Dr. Marcus Andrews since the show’s first season in 2017, appearing in 116 episodes over the course of six seasons, per IMDb. He was one of three remaining series regulars, the others being Freddie Highmore and Richard Schiff. His character resigned as hospital president in the Season 6 finale, which aired on May 1.

Another notable credit of Harper’s is his role as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes in the CBS crime drama CSI: NY.

Harper announced his run for Senate in July on X, per a previous TVLine report, and is up against Rep. Elissa Slotkin for Debbie Stabenow’s seat. According to The Daily Mail, Harper graduated from Brown University in 1988 and from Harvard Law School in 1992, prior to beginning his acting career in 1993.

Harper’s campaign website says that he is “running for U.S. Senate to ensure every single Michigander has economic security and real representation focused on the people, not lobbyists or wealthy donors.”

Primary issues of his platform include “universal healthcare,” “end[ing] the filibuster,” “climate justice” and “jobs and economic dignity.”

The Good Doctor Season 7 premieres at 10/9c Feb. 20 on ABC.