A Republican candidate in Texas supported by Governor Greg Abbott is facing disqualification efforts from his party due to residency concerns.
Residency Dispute in Texas GOP Primaries
Brent Hagenbuch, running for the only GOP-held Senate seat available in 2024, is being legally challenged by two fellow primary contestants.
A Four-Way Election Battle
Competing for the solid-red district in North Texas are Hagenbuch, emergency room physician Carrie de Moor, conservative attorney and activist Jace Yarbrough, and former police officer Cody Clark.
The Year-in-District Requirement
The dispute arises over whether Hagenbuch meets the state Constitution’s demand for candidates to have lived in their intended district for at least one year before the election, a benchmark that all four candidates would have had to meet since November 5, 2023.
Red Flags Raised
Brent Hagenbuch, a Denton County businessman and former GOP county chair, is in a tight spot. While he claimed to have lived in the district for a month and a half at the time of filing, using an office building address, his opponents are raising red flags.
Voting History Raises Questions
They point to property, tax, and voter registration records, including his vote in the November 2023 election, suggesting he was residing in a neighboring district as of November 5.
High-Profile Endorsers
Despite these challenges, Hagenbuch enjoys the backing of Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick as he aims to fill the shoes of the retiring Senator Drew Springer. On the other side, Carrie de Moor, one of his competitors, has the support of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Opponents Take Legal Action
Brent Hagenbuch’s residency issue has prompted actions from all three of his primary opponents. Carrie de Moor has launched a legal battle in Denton County, Jace Yarbrough is seeking intervention from the Second Court of Appeals, and Cody Clark has requested an investigation by the Texas Rangers.
So far, these moves have not yielded significant results.
Pre-Primary Legal Clash
De Moor’s lawsuit recently encountered a delay when a hearing was postponed due to a new submission from Hagenbuch, emphasizing his regular use of a “corporate apartment” in his office building.
This hearing has been rescheduled for January 19, just before the deadline for sending out mail ballots to military and overseas voters, with the primary set for March 5.
Comparisons to Trump’s 2024 Battle
The Hagenbuch campaign has criticized his Republican challengers for their efforts to disqualify him, drawing parallels to the tactics used by Democrats against former President Donald Trump in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.
Fear-Driven Tactics?
Allen Blakemore, a spokesperson for Hagenbuch, accused the rivals of fearing the candidate and, therefore, resorting to ballot removal strategies, remarking on Monday, “They fear the candidate, so they’re trying to knock him off the ballot.”
Residency Claim Backed by Corporate Sublease
Hagenbuch’s legal team, in their latest court submission, argued that he established residency at the office building by entering into a “corporate apartment sublease” on October 2, with the sublease being “NEAT,” which aligns with Titus Transport’s parent company, NEAT Enterprises.
The sublease terms are described as “indefinite,” with Hagenbuch required to pay a nominal rent of $1 per quarter.
“Family Issues”
Addressing queries about Hagenbuch’s choice to reside in the office building, Blakemore, his spokesperson, cited “family issues,” which Hagenbuch has openly discussed during his campaign.
Last-Minute Filing Raises Doubt
Meanwhile, the skepticism from de Moor’s legal team was evident when her lawyer questioned the credibility of Hagenbuch’s last-minute filing.”A guy shows up in court with a $1 lease that, if it’s true, would solve all of these problems for him, and it just magically shows up at the last minute?” De Moor’s lawyer questioned.
Courtroom Suspicion
In the courtroom, Judge Lee Gabriel expressed suspicion over why Hagenbuch’s lease only surfaced hours before the scheduled hearing. Judge Gabriel agreed to postpone the hearing date at de Moor’s request.
In defense, Hagenbuch’s attorney asserted that the timing of this disclosure was not a tactical move but rather a result of an overwhelming workload.
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