Former 'Bachelor' Star Ben Higgins Will Not Run for Office After All
He's withdrawn his candidacy.
— -- It was just a fling.
Former "Bachelor" star Ben Higgins has decided not to run for a seat in the Colorado state legislature after filing to run as a Republican earlier this week.
“I regret that I must withdraw my candidacy. Despite my best efforts to pursue this opportunity in good faith, I recently received information that has made such a pursuit unworkable," he wrote in a statement.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not be able to move forward as a candidate. I find solace in knowing that our intentions and actions have been fair and sincere."
Higgins was set to face Democratic incumbent, Representative Dan Pabon, who recently pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in March and was sentenced to one year probation. Pabon did not respond to a request for comment on Higgins’ whirlwind candidacy.
Republican business owner William “Willie” B. Pinkston withdrew his candidacy on July 8, clearing the way for Higgins to enter the race in the heavily Democratic district.
Higgins had filed his GOP campaign with the Colorado secretary of state this week, after accepting the nomination to run in Pinkston’s place earlier this month.
“Ben is the only Republican in the district I would step aside for. He’s a great guy and likely the only other Republican who can win,” said Pinkston in a statement to The Denver Post on May 31.
The reality television star formally affiliated with the Republican Party in January to meet the deadline for running for office.
Higgins' began a public flirtation with electd office when a website called “Ben Higgins for Colorado” launched, thanking voters for “[their] support as Ben explores his opportunities to make a positive impact on his local community.”
The 28-year-old first appeared on "The Bachelorette" in 2015 and later starred in "The Bachelor." In the finale of his season, he proposed to flight attendant Lauren Bushnell.
The two now reside together in Denver and are filming a new reality TV show, "Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After," which will premiere in October on Freeform.
ABC's Lesley Messer contributed to this report.