Democrat Richard Ojeda, grandson of a Mexican immigrant and a U.S. Army veteran, won the November 3 elections to represent North Carolina's 9th district in the United States House of Representatives, after defeating Republican Richard Hudson, who had been in Congress for almost 14 years.
Ojeda received 138,707 votes compared to Hudson's 132,692, a difference of 6,015 votes, according to preliminary results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Her victory represents a party shift in a district that had previously favored Republicans.
It also marks a historic milestone for Latino representation, as North Carolina had not previously elected a Hispanic person to the federal Congress.
The defeat of a long-serving Republican congressman
Hudson arrived in the House of Representatives in January 2013 and previously represented District 8. Since 2023 he has represented District 9, for which he ran for his eighth consecutive term in Congress.
He also chaired the Congressional Republican National Committee, which was responsible for raising funds to support Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the 2024 election, Hudson was re-elected by about 20 percentage points. Two years later, Ojeda won by about 2,2 percentage points, according to preliminary results.
A district that changes parties
District 9 runs from Cumberland County in southern North Carolina to Guilford County in the northern part of the state.
Historically, the district had elected Republican candidates. Ojeda's election ended Hudson's term and added a Democratic member to a district that had previously been considered Republican strongholds.
Who is Richard Ojeda?
Ojeda has served in the United States Army for 24 years, 15 of them at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He also served as a state senator in West Virginia, where he developed much of his political career.
Among her ancestors were Mexican immigrants. In one interview with Enlace Latino NC In February 2026, Ojeda recounted that his grandfather emigrated from Mexico to work in steel mills in Chicago and later in coal mines.
“I am a proud member of the Latino community,” he said at the time. “Our history is as American as anyone else’s.”
During his campaignOjeda indicated that his main concerns were the high cost of living, the treatment of immigrants, and respect for the Constitution and the laws.
Among other things, he proposed reducing some taxes for households with incomes up to $45,000 and adjusting the minimum wage to inflation. He also supports measures to strengthen workers' right to organize into unions.
What does he propose for the Latino community?
In a questionnaire who responded to Enlace Latino NC Before the elections, Ojeda said she would seek to promote changes in the immigration system and facilitate access for Latino communities to the services of her office in Congress.
Among his proposals is to dissolve Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in its current form and rebuild it with standards of transparency, accountability, and due process. He also proposed establishing a path to citizenship subject to meeting certain requirements.
Ojeda promised to hire Spanish-speaking staff, post forms and notices in that language, and offer direct service in communities like Siler City and Fayetteville.
He also indicated that he would use Congress's oversight powers to demand information from the Department of Homeland Security and inspect facilities where immigrants are being held.
Priorities after the victory
“I have spent 24 years in the Army and have faced difficult battles. This is the one I will remember for the rest of my life,” Ojeda said in a statement from his campaign after announcing his victory.
The Democrat attributed the victory to teachers, nurses, veterans, families connected to Fort Bragg, and district workers. He also criticized the influence of great wealth in American politics.
La campaign The statement highlighted that Hudson had raised $4.1 million, compared to Ojeda's $2.8 million, through September. According to the statement, the Republican also allocated over $200,000 for television ads in his district and received the endorsement of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
“Nobody in Washington thought this highly important seat was up for grabs. Our volunteers never believed that for a second,” said Amy Dorra, Ojeda’s campaign manager.
Dorra noted that volunteers toured communities from Hoke County to the borders of Guilford County, visited homes, made calls, and contributed small donations to the campaign.
Ojeda also recalled his military experience and mentioned the losses he suffered during the war.
“I lost many friends in a war that was justified with a lie. I’m going to Congress to make sure that no one’s child is sent to another war,” he said.
Among his priorities, the Democrat mentioned reducing drug prices, protecting Social Security and the services of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and decreasing the influence of corporate money in politics.
Ojeda plans to assume the position in January 2027, when the new congressional term begins.
“This district gave a young man from the coal country of West Virginia an opportunity. It’s a memory I’ll never forget,” Ojeda said.
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