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But the New Jersey native didn’t have the twang last year when he ran for Congress in Nevada. In one of those ads, resurfaced by the American Independent, Rodimer’s voice was softer and more clear as he defended himself against assault allegations raised by his opponent. Rather than a rodeo arena, he was surrounded at home by his children and wife — who, at one point in the campaign, was forced to explain the 911 calls she had made against him.
Rodimer has remade himself again on a road he hopes will lead to Congress, though his latest persona has earned him ridicule, even from fellow Republicans.
The ad, in particular, has renewed criticism that Rodimer, with no known connection to the 6th District, is a carpetbagger pandering to the Texas electorate. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) attacked Rodimer and the ad: “Fake Texan makes fake video of fake bull ride.”
“We already have enough phonies in Congress,” Gaetz said. “Texans, please send this Nevada man back to his true home state (where he lost two prior elections).”
The campaign declined The Washington Post’s request for an interview with Rodimer and did not respond to questions about the ad or Rodimer’s connections to Texas.
Originally from New Jersey, Rodimer attended a preparatory school in the suburbs before moving to Florida for college and law school. His campaign website says he previously lived in Houston, working as a home builder, and owned a home in Galveston — though neither location is near the district he’s running for, just south of Dallas.
After losing bids for the Nevada legislature in 2018 and Congress last year, Rodimer is campaigning again, this time in Texas, to fill the seat of the late congressman Ron Wright (R), vying against 22 other candidates. He said he was encouraged to run by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and members of former president Donald Trump’s family, according to Politico.
In an interview with Newsmax, Rodimer touted the ad’s “Make America Texas Again” tagline, saying he was “in free America” now that he had moved to Texas. He boasted that he stayed on the bull for 11 seconds.
“I said I want to ride a bull. I’ve never ridden one. I’ve been a pro wrestler, I’ve been a fighter,” Rodimer told the conservative network. “They said the hardest thing to do is…
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