Ojeda Defeats Hudson in North Carolina's Ninth

Democrat Richard Ojeda unseats seven-term Republican Congressman Richard Hudson in North Carolina's Ninth District race.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a simplified North Carolina state silhouette in deep red against a cream field, with pine-tree shapes along its base. — Democrat Richard Ojeda defeated seven-term Republican Congressman Richard Hudson in North Carolina's Ninth District on Tuesday, November 3. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Democrat Richard Ojeda, a retired Army Major, defeated seven-term Republican Congressman Richard Hudson in North Carolina's Ninth District. The election was held on Tuesday, November 3.

Why it matters

The result changes representation for North Carolina's Ninth District, replacing a veteran incumbent with a Democrat who previously served as a military officer. The win is a notable shift in a seat held by Hudson across seven terms.

Ojeda's victory ends Hudson's seven-term tenure in the Ninth District, though the extraction does not provide vote totals or margin. Final vote margins and certification details were not included in the source material.

The players

Richard Ojeda

Richard Ojeda is a retired Army Major and Democrat who won North Carolina's Ninth District race.

Richard Hudson

Richard Hudson is a seven-term Republican Congressman who lost the North Carolina Ninth District race.

The details

Ojeda posted a video to his X account on Friday, November 6, showing him telling his elderly father about the win. In the caption, he revealed that his father had passed away that morning after a years-long battle with Parkinson's disease.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election held in North Carolina's Ninth District.
Friday, November 6, 2026 (morning): Ojeda's father passes away.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Ojeda posts video of telling his father about the win.

Season Trajectory

Hudson's seven-term run in the Ninth District is now over after Ojeda's win, changing the composition of North Carolina's congressional delegation. The shift marks a turnover in a seat that had been held by the same Republican for several consecutive terms.

For North Carolina voters in the Ninth District, the result changes who represents them in Congress starting with the next session. Residents should check official county and state election resources for certified results.

The takeaway

Election outcomes can turn on individual races, and this one shows how a district's representation can change after a long-serving incumbent. Readers tracking North Carolina politics should watch for certified results and the swearing-in of the new representative.