Richard Ojeda II, the Democrat challenger who defeated Republican incumbent Richard Hudson in the race for NC-09’s U.S. House of Representatives seat Tuesday, shared that his father died just three days later.
“For years, my dad battled Parkinson’s disease,” Ojeda wrote on X Friday. “On Election Night, I got to tell him, ‘Pop, we won.’ This morning, he passed away. A part of me believes he held on just long enough to see his son make it to Congress.”
For years, my dad battled Parkinson’s disease. On Election Night, I got to tell him, “Pop, we won.”
This morning, he passed away.
A part of me believes he held on just long enough to see his son make it to Congress.
He won’t be there when I’m sworn in. But I know he’ll be… pic.twitter.com/XwUhEFiSix
— Maj. (Ret.) Richard Ojeda (@Ojeda4America) November 6, 2026
With all 169 precincts reporting, Ojeda earned 51.1% of the vote compared to Hudson’s 48.9%. His win represents a flipped seat for the Democrats in the House — one of several that led to the party’s projected control of the federal chamber on Tuesday night.
Ojeda is a retired U.S. Army major who formerly served in the state senate in West Virginia. After he moved back to North Carolina, where he had spent several years while serving in the Army, Ojeda said he was inspired to run for office again because of the state of veteran affairs under President Donald Trump’s administration. He spent 15 years stationed in Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, and he carried 78% of the vote in Cumberland County.
He is also North Carolina’s first Hispanic congressman. In his acceptance speech Tuesday night, he highlighted that part of his family history.
“My grandfather on my father’s side came to this country from Jalisco, Mexico,” he said. “He came here looking for something better, a chance to work hard, raise a family and give his children opportunities he never had. But it wasn’t easy. He had to learn English. He had to make sure that his children learned English. And like so many immigrant families, they felt the pressure to put parts of their own culture aside just to be accepted in a country they now call home. They had to learn how to fit into a world that wasn’t always willing to make room for them, but he worked hard every day swinging an ax in a coal mine until he was in his 70s.”
He also told the story of his grandfather on his mother’s side, who similarly came to the United States from Romania after fighting in World War II. Like his other grandfather, he worked in a coal mine, where he lost his life during a collapse.
“Two men from two different parts of the world, two different stories, but they shared something,” Ojeda said. “They believed in the promise of America. They believed that if you worked hard, sacrificed and gave everything that you had, maybe your children and grandchildren could have a better life than you did. One grandfather came here from Mexico and worked to build a life for his family. The other survived the World War only to lose his life working in a coal mine. But tonight, their grandson is standing right here.”
After election results are certified later this month, Ojeda will be sworn in as the congressman for North Carolina’s 9th congressional district. He said his father will be on his mind as he takes on his new role.
“He won’t be there when I’m sworn in,” Ojeda’s post concluded. “But I know he’ll be standing right beside me. Rest easy, Daddy. I’ll take it from here. These next two years are for you.”
Featured image via Richard Ojeda II.
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‘These Next Two Years Are For You’: Richard Ojeda II Honors His Father Who Died Days After Election Victory Chapelboro.com.
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