Bachelor' Star Ben Higgins Announces 'Exciting News' to Colorado GOP Leaders

Beloved star of ABC's "The Bachelor" Ben Higgins is returning to television — but that doesn't mean he's given up on a potential political future.

Higgins told state Republican Party leaders in Colorado Tuesday that he accepted an offer from ABC to appear in a new television show alongside fiancé Lauren Bushnell about their life after "The Bachelor" called "Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After." In his email, provided to TheBlaze, Higgins said the show "represents a unique opportunity for spreading our message of less government and more personal freedom to even more people."

"The Bachelor" star Ben Higgins and fiancé Lauren Bushnell will appear in a new television show set to air this fall. (AP Photo/Alicia Rancilio)

As TheBlaze previously reported, Higgins is eyeing a potential run for a Colorado state House seat as a Republican. Higgins stressed Tuesday that the new show would not "interfere with my commitment to win this seat for our party in November" although the software sales rep has not officially announced his campaign.

"In fact, this new TV program would provide the chance for me to talk directly to an expanded number of [House District 4] residents, rather than face the same obstacle experienced by most candidates — having their message ignored by the news media," Higgins wrote. "In fact, it will also enable us to win new recruits to the cause we’re fighting for, both here and across our state."

Higgins told TheBlaze Wednesday, "Colorado is an amazing place, and my vision is to empower individuals in our community by expanding personal freedom."

"No matter what, this opportunity will help me do that," Higgins added.

A Republican strategist with knowledge of Higgins' potential candidacy told TheBlaze that there is not an opening for Higgins to run until current Republican candidate, business consultant Willie Pinkston, files paperwork to drop out — something that most likely wouldn't happen until after the June 28 primary.

Pinkston has told TheBlaze that he is prepared to step aside and let Higgins run for the open seat.

"What's become clear is that Ben's positive and fresh perspective is inspiring and engaging a lot of new people who are tired with politics as usual," Dustin Olson, a Colorado GOP strategist and adviser to Higgins, told TheBlaze Wednesday. "He has the opportunity to lead a grassroots movement of people making a positive impact in their community."

The new show, which will follow the couple as they plan their wedding and lives together, is set to air in the fall on ABC's Freeform network.

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