Republican Rep. Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, has conceded defeat in his bid for re-election in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. Democrat Richard Ojeda is the projected winner, according to NBC News and The Associated Press. Hudson announced his concession in a statement Wednesday afternoon, acknowledging the voters' decision and stating he had personally called Ojeda to offer congratulations.
Ojeda, a retired Army major and former West Virginia state senator, secured approximately 2 percentage points more than Hudson. This victory ends a long Republican hold on the district, which has been represented by a Republican since 1963.
In a speech Tuesday night, Ojeda declared his win a triumph over formidable opposition, describing Hudson as "one of the most powerful and corrupt politicians in Washington, D.C." He highlighted Hudson's political connections, donor support, and his tenure in Congress since 2013. Ojeda reflected on his military service, stating that this electoral victory was the fight he would remember for the rest of his life.