Gamrat joins a Republican field that’s already five people and is expected to attract more. No Democrats have filed to run in the predominantly GOP seat in Allegan County.
Gamrat was removed last week by a two-thirds vote of the House over her role in a sex-and-cover-up scandal. She says that decision was not fair to her voters.
“I have been fighting for the voters of Allegan County and I just felt like I needed to fight so they could have a voice in the decision, not the Lansing establishment,” she says.
Being expelled does not stop a former lawmaker from running again for the same seat. And no lawmaker can be removed twice for the same reason.
Todd Courser resigned during the same all-night session before the House voted to expel him. Courser has not ruled out running for his old seat.
The other candidates who have filed for the Republican primary:
Bill Sage
Shannon Szukala
Kevin Travis
Mary Whiteford
Allegan County Commissioner Jim Storey has also said he intends to file.
The filing deadline is 4 pm Friday. The deadline to withdraw from the race is 4 pm Monday.