Rangel opponent lives in New Jersey

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) is already facing multiple primary challengers, but one doesn’t actually live in New York.

Rev. Michael Walrond, a Democrat challenging Rangel, filed Federal Election Commission papers revealing his address to be in Edgewater, N.J., a suburb across the Hudson River from New York’s 13th District.

Federal election law only requires a congressional candidate to live in the district they would represent only when elected, but Walrond plans to move this month from his home in New Jersey into the district, according to NYStateofPolitics.com, a local political blog that first reported the news.

Walrond, who returned to the New York area from North Carolina nine years ago, serves as senior pastor at Harlem’s First Corinthian Baptist Church and has played an active role in the community during his time with the church.

Still, his move into the district could open him up to carpetbagging charges.

Rangel, a 22-term Democrat who survived multiple primary challengers in 2012 is expected to again face a tough fight for his seat.

Along with Walrond, at least one other candidate has filed to challenge Rangel, and state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, who supporters believe is well-poised to take advantage of the district’s growing Hispanic population, is expected to jump in the race.

Rangel will have to contend with the shadow of his 2010 Ethics Committee censure that still hangs over his record in Congress and an overarching dissatisfaction among Americans with incumbent lawmakers.