A bill sent to Gov. Bill Lee would prevent Tennesseans who haven’t lived in the state for more than three consecutive years from running for Congress. A trio of voters are suing the state because it would disqualify a Trump-backed candidate running in one of Nashville’s newly drawn districts.
A lawsuit filed against the state alleges that the proposal runs afoul of the U.S. Constitution. The constitution only requires that candidates must be 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for seven years, and a resident of the state when elected. It does not specify how long a person must live in state.
The lawsuit says Republican Morgan Ortagus would be disqualified by the change. The former State Department spokesperson announced her candidacy in February, after former President Donald Trump endorsed her. But she moved here in 2021.
In a statement, Ortagus slammed the legislation. She says, “No one questioned my residency when I served our country in the intelligence community, the Trump administration, nor in the U.S. Navy Reserves.”
The bill won’t go into effect until Gov. Bill Lee signs it. Bill sponsors say it’s not targeted at any specific candidate, but a change they’ve seen necessary for some time.
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