Ojeda Projected to Unseat Hudson in NC-9
Democrat Richard Ojeda leads Republican incumbent Richard Hudson in North Carolina's 9th congressional district with 116 of 169 precincts reporting.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Richard Ojeda is projected to defeat incumbent Republican Richard Hudson in North Carolina's 9th district U.S. House race, earning 51.40% of the vote to Hudson's 48.60% with 116 of 169 precincts reporting. The projected win would flip the seat to Democratic control.
Why it matters
A Democratic flip of a district held by a Republican incumbent since 2013 would shift the balance of North Carolina's congressional delegation. Ojeda said his campaign was motivated by the state of veteran affairs under the Trump administration.
Ojeda leads 51.40% to 48.60% with 116 of 169 precincts reporting, while Hudson, in Congress since 2013, has not yet conceded. Results from the remaining 53 precincts and official certification are still pending.
The players
Richard Ojeda
Retired U.S. Army major and former West Virginia state senator who ran as the Democratic candidate in North Carolina's 9th district.
Richard Hudson
Republican U.S. Representative who has served in Congress since 2013 and represented North Carolina's 8th district before redistricting.
The details
Ojeda, a retired U.S. Army major and former West Virginia state senator, ran against Hudson, who initially represented the 8th district before redistricting moved him to the 9th in 2023. The district includes Alamance, Hoke, Moore and Randolph counties and portions of Chatham, Cumberland and Guilford counties.
Timeline
2013: Hudson began serving in the U.S. House.
2023: Redistricting moved Hudson from the 8th to the 9th district.
November 4, 2026: Ojeda was projected to win the House election.
Election Context
The race for North Carolina's 9th district followed the 2023 congressional redistricting that moved Richard Hudson from the 8th district into this newly configured seat. Ojeda's projected victory reverses the Republican hold that the redrawn boundaries had been expected to protect.
The outcome determines which candidate represents residents of Alamance, Hoke, Moore and Randolph counties in Congress. Voters in the district will be represented by whoever is certified as the winner once remaining precincts are counted.
The takeaway
Watch for certified results as the remaining precincts are counted, since unofficial returns can shift before a race is final.
Further reading
Explore more in Elections for broader context on this race and others across the country.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chapelboro.
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