Herschel Walker may be running for a U.S. Senate in Georgia, but it seems that Texas is always on his mind. The scandal-plagued candidate couldn’t disassociate himself from the Lone Star State. His Texas pride is now woven into the story of his political rise. The sixty-year-old said, “I was sitting at home in Texas, and I saw what was happening in this country” during a speech he gave to University of Georgia College Republicans, in which he explained his motivation behind seeking political office. “I saw what was happening in this country and how they were dividing people.”
During the same speech, he said, “I live here in Texas.” This admission is not an anomaly. A CNN count shows that Walker conducted at least four interviews after announcing Georgia’s candidacy from his Westlake home, an affluent neighborhood nestled between Dallas and Fort Worth. Walker gave around 20 interviews in Texas before announcing his Senate bid. (The U.S. Constitution only requires that a senator be “registered in Georgia to vote last summer. He began claiming the North Atlanta house owned by his wife solely as his primary residence. Financial statements show the home was used as a rental in the same year. Walker, meanwhile, continued to claim the homestead exemption in Texas. This gives homeowners a tax deduction on their principal residence. Walker, who lowered his Texas tax bill more than $1,000 while also claiming Atlanta was his primary residence last year, is possibly violating Texas law. The state tax code limits the exemptions to one in-state home, according to the office of the state comptroller.
Democrats took advantage of a Tuesday press conference focusing on Walker’s troubled campaign. Dewey McClain said that Georgians need to elect someone who lives in Georgia. Herschel Walker is not being honest about his residence with Georgians. He was caught trying to cheat the system.
There’s something predictably Texan about leaving the state to pursue opportunities elsewhere and then gradually realizing you’re unable to escape the gravitational pull exerted by superior brisket and tacos, warm weather, and, until recently, affordability. In Walker’s case, however, it’s not entirely clear that the former Dallas Cowboys running back–who has been called “a pathological liar” by at least one former girlfriend–officially left in the first place, physically or psychically. A look inside Walker’s home of four bedrooms could explain why the Heisman Award winner is so hesitant to leave Texas.
Walker bought the four-bedroom home with four bathrooms, built in 2005, for an undisclosed amount in January 2011. (Eight months earlier, the property was listed at $3,175,000,
Wealthy families dominate Vaquero, and the area has some of the largest homes in Texas. It covers 525 acres, which was once a ranch owned by Nelson Bunker Hunt. He was a billionaire Texas and eccentric whose older brother inspired the character J. R. Ewing from the T.V. series Dallas. The website of the community notes that “the secluded property has rolling hills and a newly renovated 42,000-square-foot Club House, as well as a golf course designed by Tom Fazio.” (A renowned golf course designer, in case you were wondering). According to an online fee breakdown for 2018, a golf membership costs $150,000, while a “social membership” is $40,000, according to the community’s website. The annual dues vary from under $10,000 up to almost $20,000 for each category of membership. (Compare this with the in-state tuition of the University of Texas, which is currently around $12,000).
In 2007, the neighborhood was still in its infancy. A D Magazine spotlight highlighted the fact that security is taken very seriously. “Nobody gets through without approval.”
Zillow describes Walker’s home as “a spectacular Italian Estate” with beige, brown, and marble accents. The house is similar to the homes used as sets in reality T.V. dramas like ABC’s The Bachelor. Walker’s home has a movie theatre, wood-beamed walls, an outdoor kitchen, and a saltwater pool surrounded by a “spectacular terrace garden.” It also features a mudroom, a game room, a laundry room, and a mud room.
The Vaquero private club is the main perk to living in Walker’s gated neighborhood. The club also has a gym, spa, and concierges to help with everything from grocery delivery and laundry pickup to car wash and transportation to the airport. The community’s popularity with NFL stars is perhaps explained by the fact that it has been home to many NFL players over the years. The neighborhood offers many amenities to its members, including swimming, tennis, pickleball, and group activities.