When is a Representative not Representing

When is a Representative not a Representative

An interesting twist, although not especially new, is that so many in-office and those seeking to be elected, choose not to live among those they represent or want to represent.

The most prominent recent election was in Georgia a few months ago. Karen Handel won with about a three percent margin of victory over Jon Ossoff. Ossoff lived a few miles outside of the district, and he could not vote for himself.

Maxine Waters, who said on August 4^th on The View, that as soon as we impeach Trump we should impeach Putin, does not live in her district, and has not for several years. Instead she lives in, so it has been reported, a rather lavish mansion well away from her south central Los Angeles constituencies.

A Democrat challenger to Congressman Ed Royce for the 2018 election does not live in the district. Andy Thorburn, a former teacher and union activist, has loaned his campaign $2 million to run against the incumbent. After leaving teaching, in New Jersey, he moved to Orange County and became involved in international health insurance. However, just as Waters does not live in her district and cannot vote for herself in her re-election effort, Thorburn will not be able to vote for himself, as he lives in Villa Park.

What makes this all the more interesting, and mildly amusing, is that Villa Park is in Mimi Walters district, but she lives in Laguna Beach, which is not in her district, so she can’t vote for herself either. She lives in Dana Rohrabacher’s district. As far as I know, at least he can vote for himself.

I do not know why the Constitution was written to allow representatives to be elected from districts where they do not live, but it seems it might be time to consider an amendment to require residency among one’s constituents.