One-time gay escort loses Texas house race

Former gay escort Tom Malin garnered more than 45% of the vote in a Democratic primary election Tuesday but fell short in his bid for his party's nomination for the Texas house.

The Dallas actor and salesman acknowledged last month, when contacted by The Dallas Morning News, that he had worked as a prostitute. The newspaper published a story that resulted from a tip that Malin had been involved in the sex industry.

Some of Malin's endorsements were withdrawn after the revelation, which included information that he once advertised his sexual services under the name Todd Sharpe.

Retired salesman Jack Borden, who won the primary, received nearly 55% of the vote in the two-man race, according to unofficial results. Borden will face Republican Dan Branch in the November election.

Malin, a former member of the Dallas Citizens Police Review Board and a Mary Kay salesman, did not immediately reply to messages left at his home and office on Tuesday night. The cosmetics company has acknowledged Malin as one of a "very exclusive number" of men whose sales allowed him to win use of a pink Cadillac.

He said earlier that he decided to stay in the race because he believes in redemption. "I've made mistakes in my life, and I've stood before my creator and I've accepted responsibility for my behavior," he said. "I've also accepted his grace and his redemption and his love and his forgiveness, and that's what's important." (AP)

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