A major setback has been dealt to ex-Olympian sprinter Carl Lewis’ bid for a New Jersey state Senate seat, as Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno ruled on Tuesday that Lewis has not met the state residency requirement needed to run for political office.
Earlier this year, Lewis, who won nine gold medals in track and field events in the Olympics during the 1980s and 1990s, announced he would run for state Senate. The matter of his residency became an issue when it was revealed that Lewis owns homes in New Jersey and California, and that he also ran a business in California.
Additionally, Lewis told at least one media outlet back in May that Gov. Chris Christie tried to dissuade him from seeking political office. Lewis, 49, and his legal team eventually filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the decision not to allow him to run, claiming the rule was unconstitutional and violated his civil rights.
In her ruling on the decision not to allow Lewis to run, Guadagno stated, “As of the constitutional cut-off, Lewis did not yet own his home in New Jersey and did not otherwise live in New Jersey.” Lewis said he has owned a home in the state since 2005 and meets the four-year residency requirement.
Lewis made a brief statement to the media after the most recent setback and said he will appeal Guadagno’s decision.