Related--in many states the reps/senators are not actually required to live in their district/state or only spend a nominal amount of time there or have used means and influence to circumvent the requirement. IIRC, the senator from Alabama lives in Florida, although that didn't stop him from being re-elected. As of 2017*, around 5% of reps didn't live in the district they represent and while the ones that do often have even worse gerrymandering in order to remain in office, having both scenarios exist simultaneously is, IMO, not a positive trend. The do-your-own-research crowd never really takes into account the downside of carpetbaggers. SEE: State of Texas>Politicians>Dan Patrick
*From a WaPo study. Would love to know if this has increased or if candidates are simply buying property and then nominally residing there. If representation is not one's goal as a candidate but latching on to the tether of power is then citizen's apathy, ignorance, and disregard for the nuance of policy plays quite nicely into this.