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If there’s anything as certain as climate change and student loans, it’s politicians lying or exploiting loopholes to get into office or keep their jobs. George Santos may be the most galling example in recent memory (it’s an entire section of his Wikipedia article!), but he’s not alone in his lies. Alone in his audacity? Sure! In the act of lying? No. One subject people tend to expect politicians to be honest about is where they live, if for no other reason than that it can be easily verified, and that people assume residency laws require a candidate to live within the area they’re supposed to be serving. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. What counts as “residency” anyway? If you’re someone with only one home like the vast majority of Americans, it’s simple: Your residence is where you live. Full stop. But if you’re a politician, splitting hairs comes with the job, and that’s where things get spicy. Both major parties have had incidents in recent years where office holders or office hopefuls have taken very expansive definitions of the truth to suit their needs when explaining their living situations. And while some candidates have been able to get by unscathed, others have found themselves out of a job. |
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(Image credit: Joel Bissell via the Associated Press) |
One of the most humorous examples in recent memory is that of NYC Mayor Eric Adams. During Adams’ mayoral campaign in the summer of 2021, a few days before the Democratic primary election, Twitter and news outlets alike lit up with variations of the same question: “Does Eric Adams live in New Jersey?” Curbed even staked out his Brooklyn brownstone! The question was never fully settled before he won the election, and the lack of legal challenges to the question of his residency rendered the point moot. But the jokes about the suspiciously un-vegan contents of his fridge still flew. On a much smaller (and less funny) scale in Louisiana, a Republican candidate for the state house faced challenges to his residency when voters in the legislative district in which he was running for office unearthed public records that showed he resided in a parish about an hour and a half away. The candidate, Todd McKellar, was ultimately disqualified from running by a judge who reviewed the case. It’s not just state and local politicians who try to play fast and loose with their addresses. Adam Schiff, Herschel Walker and Rick Santorum each ran for Senate in California, Georgia and Pennsylvania, respectively, all while having longtime homes in Maryland, Texas and Virginia. |
(Image credit: Getty Images) |
Even if 2024 weren't an election year, a politician’s ability to adequately address the issues of their constituents is directly tied to whether they truly know the issues of their constituents. Can Eric Adams really be trusted in matters relevant to Ozone Park, Queens, if he lives in New Jersey? How can Californians be certain that Adam Schiff will be familiar with the issues most relevant to them if he spends much of his time in Maryland? Where you live is not a guarantee that they will vote the way your constituents want, but at bare minimum it’s a token gesture of good faith and integrity. And we can all agree that politicians are lacking in that arena, no matter what cul-de-sac, townhouse or high-rise they live in. |
This week’s Reckon Report topic was the result of an email we received from a reader in December. Thank you, BJ! And let BJ’s outreach be a signal to everyone else who has ever thought about suggesting a coverage topic: Don’t be shy. Chances are we are interested in talking about it too. |
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Got something you want us to dive into soon? Let me know at [email protected].
That's all I've got for this week!
Thanks for reckoning with me, Aria |
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