UPDATED: Tea Party Trysters Defeated in Comeback Bids

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Updated at 10:30 p.m.

Two disgraced former lawmakers caught in an extramarital tryst and bizarre cover-up scheme were soundly defeated in their comeback bids in Tuesday’s Republican primary to fill their seats.

Rep. Todd Courser, of Lapeer, received only 369 of 65,241 votes cast in the House District 82 primary, according to the unofficial election totals. With 100 percent of precincts counted, Gary Howell appeared to be the winner with 2,263 votes.

With 80 percent of precincts counted, former state Rep. Cindy Gamrat, of Plainwell, was defeated by Mary Whiteford, of South Haven, according to unofficial Allegan County election results. Gamrat, who was expelled from the House in September, conceded the race after Whiteford was declared the winner.

Courser resigned in September just moments before a vote on his expulsion.

Our Earlier Report

Michigan’s infamous tea party trysters, disgraced former lawmakers Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, are fighting for their political futures in today’s election.

In a strange twist in an already bizarre sex scandal, the pair want to replace themselves in the Michigan House of Representatives. Gamrat was ousted outright, and Courser resigned just moments before the House was poised to vote to expel him over the affair and a fake gay sex scandal he cooked up to cover up the tryst.

In a strange chapter in Michigan’s political history, Courser distributed an anonymous email accusing himself of being a “porn-addicted sex deviant” and having sex with a male prostitute behind a Lansing nightclub. A staunch gay marriage opponent, Courser reportedly figured the allegations would be so over the top that no one would believe them, thus deflecting attention away from the real extramarital affair. He called it a “controlled burn.”

Both Courser and Gamrat are running on crowded ballots. Courser, of Lapeer, is among 11 candidates seeking the Republican nomination for House District 82. Gamrat, of Plainwell, is among eight Republican candidates seeking to represent House District 80.

If they’re successful, their names will be on general election ballots on March 8.

Catch Up on This Story:

• State Rep Wanted to Cover Up Affair With Fake Gay Sex Scandal
• Rep. Courser’s Brother Posts Alleged Blackmail Texts Online
• Not My Finest Moment’ – State Rep Apologizes for Fake Sex Scandal Scheme
• Legislators Not Quitting, Ex-Aide Shares Steamy Details of Affair
• Lawmakers OK Inquiry into House Sex Scandal and Cover-Up
• Select Committee to Decide Fate of Lawmakers in Sex Scandal: Read the Report
• Watch Sex Scandal Hearings Live: Gamrat Expected to Admit Guilt to Keep Job
• Courser Pleads for His Job, Says His ‘Heart Is Sincere’: Watch the Hearing
• Republican-Controlled House Can’t Muster Enough Votes to Oust Courser and Gamrat
• Michigan Lawmakers Ousted in Bizarre Sex Scandal
• Disgraced Lawmaker Cindy Gamrat Files Papers to Replace Herself
• Both of Michigan’s Tea Party Trysters Want Their Jobs Back
• Courser, Gamrat Named in Whistleblower Lawsuit by Ex-Aides