GOP congressional hopeful under scrutiny as real address remains a mystery

Derrick Anderson, a former Green Beret, has announced his plans to seek the GOP nomination for the 2024 U.S. House race in Virginia's 7th Congressional District — a seat presently held by former CIA agent and centrist Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger.

But according to the Daily Beast's Jake Lahut, it's "unclear" that Anderson "actually lives in the district."

Lahut reports, "Despite touting his hometown roots in Fredericksburg and publicly claiming he's lived in Spotsylvania County since 2021, there's little evidence to suggest he actually resides in the area — other than registering to vote there. Instead, according to public records and documents obtained by The Daily Beast, it appears Anderson actually lives in an Alexandria townhouse that he bought for $852,000 in 2021 with the help of a Veterans Affairs loan that is 'only available for a primary residence.'"

Lahut adds that although congressional candidates in Virginia are not legally required to live in a district, a "loan from the VA and Federal Housing Administration (FHA)" that Anderson received "puts him in an awkward position."

This isn't the first time Anderson has sought the GOP congressional nomination in that district. In 2022, he lost a Republican primary to nominee Yesli Vega, who Spanberger defeated in the general election.