Richard Ojeda Defeats Republican Richard Hudson in NC-09 Upset
Democratic candidate Richard Ojeda defeated Republican incumbent Richard Hudson in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District on November 4, 2026.
Richard Ojeda, a retired U.S. Army major and former West Virginia State Senator, defeated Republican incumbent Richard Hudson in the election for North Carolina's 9th Congressional District on November 4, 2026. Final unofficial counts from all 169 precincts show Ojeda winning with 138,707 votes to Hudson's 132,692.
Hudson, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, lost his bid for an eighth consecutive term in a district previously considered safe for Republicans. Campaign manager Amy Dorra attributed the victory to a grassroots effort, noting that volunteers believed the seat was in play despite expectations from Washington.
Ojeda stated he intends to focus on lowering drug prices, protecting Social Security and the VA, and removing corporate money from politics. The results remain unofficial until the statewide canvass scheduled for November 13.
