Stacey Dash Withdraws From Congressional Race

LOS ANGELES, CA — Stacey Dash, the actress who played Dionne Davenport in the hit 1995 movie "Clueless" and went on to become a conservative pundit for Fox News, announced Friday that she has scrapped plans to run for office. The announcement came about a month after Dash filed with the Federal Election Commission as a candidate for California's 44th Congressional seat.

Dash said she made the decision, which was "not an easy one," out of respect for her family and God.

"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," Dash said in a statement Friday afternoon. "I would never want to betray the personal and spiritual principles I believe in most: that my God and my family come first."

Here is the full statement she posted on her website "dashtodc.com":

A Message from Stacey

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.

The constituents living in the 44th District deserve a representative who is fully dedicated to improving their lives. I believe we live under a system of “Plantation Politics,” which offers people on the lower end of the economic spectrum little more than symbolic gestures instead of true political empowerment and improvement. The high crime rate, unacceptable high school dropout rate, and decaying infrastructure are all problems that could receive federal attention and funds, but not if we focus on distractions and partisanship instead.

My political positions have often been labeled 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.

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.

My Thanks.
My Love.
My Gratitude.
God Bless You.
Stacey Lauretta Dash

In late February, Dash filed to run for office in California's 44th Congressional District, a predominantly minority district that includes Compton, Carson, Watts, Lynwood and San Pedro.

A Republican running in a Democratic stronghold, the 51-year-old faced an uphill battle, mainly for the infamy she garnered in minority communities as a strident critic of former President Barack Obama and leaders of black culture.

SEE ALSO:

• Stacey Dash, Of 'Clueless,' Fox News Fame, Running For Congress
• Stacey Dash, 'Clueless' Actress, Weighs Congressional Bid

Patch editors Paige Austin and Daniel Hampton contributed.

Pictured, Stacey Dash arrives at the "American Sniper" New York Premiere on December 15, 2014, in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)