Republican Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), has lost his bid for re-election in North Carolina's Ninth congressional district, a seat previously considered safe for the GOP. The 14-year incumbent conceded defeat to Democrat Richard Ojeda, a former state senator and retired Army Major.
With 99 percent of votes counted, Ojeda secured 138,707 votes compared to Hudson's 132,692. The outcome came as a surprise to Republican leadership and strategists.
As NRCC chair, Hudson was instrumental in fundraising efforts, with the campaign arm raising over $260 million for races nationwide. Hudson's own campaign, however, cost approximately $2 million.
The election also saw a strong performance by Democrat Roy Cooper, who contributed to a broader “blue wave” in the state. Cooper's campaign focused on the slogan "Make stuff cost less," resonating with voters citing concerns about the economy and rising living costs. Cooper stated, "Tonight, we told Washington loud and clear that North Carolinians will always matter more than the billionaires and the insiders."
In another district, Democrat Jamie Ager flipped North Carolina's 11th Congressional district from Republican control. This seat had been represented by Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards, who withdrew his re-election bid following revelations about his conduct with young female staffers. State Representative Jennifer Balkcom was selected by Republican insiders to replace Edwards on the ballot.
As of Wednesday afternoon, two other North Carolina Republican incumbents, Virginia Foxx and Greg Murphy, awaited final tallies in their respective races. Murphy held a narrow lead of under 250 votes, while Foxx trailed by 99 votes.