Questions about campaign photos, primary residency dog Virginia congressional candidate

“Republican candidates can either borrow their friends’ families for photo ops or accurately claim they’re not weird, but they can’t do both,” Hillary Clinton posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A Virginia congressional candidate is drawing national attention for posing in campaign materials with a friend’s family, and a political group is drawing renewed attention to questions about where Derrick Anderson actually lives. 

Anderson, the Republican candidate for the open seat in Virginia’s competitive 7th congressional district, owns a home in Alexandria for which he got a big property tax break, and he rents a home in Spotsylvania County, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch report that cites research from American Bridge, a liberal political action committee. 

Research by American Bridge raises questions about Anderson’s primary residence and some campaign materials appear to show him posing at the out-of-district residence. Anderson reportedly received thousands of dollars in Fairfax County tax breaks on his Alexandria home for an exemption on homes that are supposed to be the taxpayer’s primary residence, according to the Times-Dispatch story. 

Anderson has maintained that he lives in the district. He did not respond to The Dogwood’s request for comment nor did anyone answer the door at the Alexandria home on Monday afternoon. 

A campaign mailer (top left) and campaign website photo (bottom) appear to show Derrick Anderson posing at a home (top right) that sits outside of the Virginia district he’s running to represent. (The Dogwood illustration; American Bridge; Derrick Anderson for Congress)

Virginia’s 7th congressional district is anchored partially by Prince William county and all of Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, but doesn’t include any part of Fairfax County. Members of the US House are not required to live in the districts they represent, but the questions about his residency dogged Anderson in the Republican primary. And it’s arguably an awkward look for Anderson since he likes to tout his ties to the district and has tried to portray his Democratic opponent, Eugene Vindman, as out of touch. 

“It’s time for having somebody that’s from the district, that knows the district in and out,” Anderson said at a Sept. 17 candidates forum. 

Even more awkward for Anderson are the headlines about his posing with a friend’s family in photos and videos posted by his campaign. 

The New York Times reported late last week that a woman and three girls he posed with in “what looks like a photo that might be used for an annual holiday card” and in footage filmed for possible use in a campaign ad where they are all seated around a dining room table, are not related to Anderson and are instead the wife and children of a longtime friend. Anderson is engaged, has no kids, and has a dog. 

None of these people are related to the candidate in a tight Virginia house race, Derrick Anderson. pic.twitter.com/1TAaOftxa1

— Annie Karni (@anniekarni) September 27, 2024

Anderson’s campaign pushed back on the Times’ reporting. A campaign spokesman said that “Derrick’s opponent and every other candidate in America are in similar pictures and video with supporters of all kinds” and that the video simply showed Mr. Anderson “with female supporters and their kids.”  

Still, shortly after the Times published its story, national and state Democrats seized on the  reporting as further evidence of how Republicans are “weird.” 

Dear @JDVance: You said that people without children “don’t really have a direct stake” in our country. Do you think that applies to GOP candidate Derrick Anderson, who doesn’t have children but is trying to mislead voters by renting a family in his pictures? Asking for a friend. https://t.co/30wadN5Xk8

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 27, 2024

A spokesman for Mr. Anderson did not respond to a request for comment.

MAGA = WEIRD Exhibit 36362781373615 https://t.co/EpZSzwSI8I

— Jake Rubenstein (@JakeRubenstein) September 27, 2024

Meanwhile, some headlines hammered Anderson for the hypocrisy of a candidate from the party that has demonized nontraditional families and people without kids.

The headlines include: 

“Childless GOP Candidate Borrows Family for Weird Photo Shoot” – The Daily Beast

“Childless GOP Candidate Borrows Friend’s Wife and Kids for Photo Ops” – Rolling Stone 

“Child-free Republican candidate borrows wife and children from friend to pose for campaign photos” – The Independent