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Candidates › NC-09 race › 2025–2026
Richard Ojeda
D Democratic nominee for U.S. House, NC-09
Has not served in Congress
- On the ballot
- On the general election ballotNov 3, 2026 · North Carolina US House 9
- Where to vote
- Find your polling place (opens in a new tab) · More ways to vote
- Top priorities
- Investing in North Carolina
- Fighting for Veterans
- Protecting Education
- Protecting the Environment
- Fixing Immigration
- Money
- $2.9M raised, $2.9M spent, $45.6K cash on hand (through Oct 14, 2026). Where it comes from
- Who gives
- 71% of individual money from donors at $200 or less · 14% from North Carolina · largest committee giver LABORERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA (LIUNA) PAC, $5K
- Outside groups
- $6.3K supporting Ojeda
- Backed by
- Congresswoman Nanette Barragan · Congressman Salud Carbajal · Congressman Robert Garcia and 27 more. As the campaign lists them
8 priorities from ojedafornc.com, in the order they are listed there. Every heading and the text under it is copied exactly, as one passage for each page it is from, and links to that place on the page; hover a source to see which passage it opens.
NORTH CAROLINA STRONG ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-north-carolina at this heading)
I will stand up to anyone who threatens North Carolina.
The MAGA movement and their allies have destroyed the services we rely on: immoral Medicaid cuts, thousands of VA employees fired, and many programs for working families thrown away. When politicians come for our state, I will meet them head on and fight back.
- Protect essential services that veterans, families, and students count on every day.
- Stop the constant attacks on healthcare access and keep rural hospitals open.
- Push Washington insiders out of North Carolina’s local decisions.
Protect Essential Services ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-north-carolina at this heading)
I will block efforts to gut departments that serve veterans, students, and families because cutting them leaves our people vulnerable.
Defend Access to Healthcare ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-north-carolina at this heading)
I will fight to keep coverage affordable, stop hospital closures, and make sure North Carolinians get the care they need close to home.
Keep DC Out of Our Decisions ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-north-carolina at this heading)
I will not let Washington politicians use North Carolina communities as props in their political games.
Build Local Strength ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-north-carolina at this heading)
I will push for fair funding and local investment so towns and families across our state can thrive without interference.
COMMON QUESTIONS ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-north-carolina at this heading)
North Carolina deserves straight answers about how I’ll defend our state.
I hear from people across NC-09 who worry about services being slashed and communities ignored. Here are my answers about how I will stand up for North Carolina.
What essential services are most at risk right now? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-north-carolina at this heading)
Richard Hudson and DOGE have dismantled programs that support veterans, fund schools, and keep healthcare running. I will fight to restore and preserve those programs because families rely on those services every day.
How will you protect access to healthcare? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-north-carolina at this heading)
I will work to expand Medicaid, keep rural hospitals open, and stop politicians from ripping coverage away. Healthcare is a right, not a bargaining chip.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-north-carolina
WE HONOR SERVICE ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
Veterans deserve care, respect, and real action.
Richard Hudson calls himself the “veterans’ representative” but he votes to tear down veterans at every turn. I served for 24 years, and as a retired Army Major, I know firsthand what it means to serve. Veterans deserve more than words. They deserve healthcare, pensions, and respect that matches the sacrifice they gave this nation.
- Stop the assault on the VA workforce from politicians like Richard Hudson
- Protect pensions and benefits veterans have already earned.
- Prioritize mental health care for veterans and families.
Healthcare Access ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
Every veteran deserves timely, quality VA healthcare without months of waiting.
Fair Pensions ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
No one who served should ever have to fear losing retirement or disability benefits.
Mental Health ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
Expand access to counseling and treatment to end veteran suicide.
Community Support ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
Stronger outreach programs to connect veterans with local resources and jobs.
COMMON QUESTIONS ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
No veteran should be left behind to fund tax breaks for billionaires
Congressmen like Richard Hudson make promises to veterans and then forget them. I will never forget my fellow service members. Here are answers to the most important questions veterans and their families are asking.
How will you fix VA care? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
I will fight to expand facilities in North Carolina, hire more staff, and cut red tape so veterans are not left waiting months for appointments or denied the care they earned.
What about pensions and retirement security? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
I will oppose any attempt to cut military pensions or disability benefits. These are promises made to service members. Breaking them dishonors service and hurts families who sacrificed for this country.
Will you focus on mental health? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
Yes. We must expand VA mental health services, increase access to counseling, and address PTSD and suicide directly. Veterans deserve care that matches the invisible battles they still face.
How will families be supported? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
Military families serve too. I will strengthen spousal support programs, improve education opportunities, and expand job training so families have stability and opportunity after years of sacrifice.
Why trust you to deliver? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans at this heading)
Because the VA is my care in the community. I know the challenges of military service, the frustration of fighting bureaucracy, and the need for quality healthcare for those who have earned it. Service is about standing up for one another and we must stand ready to care for those we have sent into harms way.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · ojedafornc.com/fighting-for-veterans
STRONG SCHOOLS, BRIGHT FUTURES ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
I believe parents and teachers, not politicians, should shape education.
Donald Trump and Richard Hudson have gutted the Department of Education. They have slashed school funding and handed control to billionaires. We must:
- Defend the Department of Education and public schools.
- Pass legislation like the Pay Teachers Act and raise the national pay scale to at least 60k per year.
- Secure federal funding for rural schools and educators so every child has a chance.
Defend Public Schools ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
I will fight to stop Washington politicians from dismantling the Department of Education because strong public schools are the foundation of every community.
Fair Pay for Educators ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
As a former teacher, I know educators deserve wages that reflect their commitment to our greatest resource and keep them in the classroom.
Resources for Rural Schools ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
I will fight to bring federal funding to rural schools so every child, no matter their zip code, has a chance to succeed.
Keep Politics Out of Classrooms ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
I will stop extremists from turning classrooms into battlegrounds. Education should be about preparing kids for life, not culture wars.
COMMON QUESTIONS ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
Parents and teachers deserve straight answers on education.
I hear concerns from families across NC-09 about schools, teachers, and the future of our kids. Here are my answers to the questions I hear the most. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or independent, we all want the same thing: strong schools, smart kids, and a future we can believe in.
How will you raise teacher pay? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
I will sponsor legislation like the Pay Teachers Act, a bill that raises the national teacher pay scale to at least $60,000.00 per year because they deserve it. I will fight so teachers can make a living without juggling multiple jobs. North Carolina will not keep good teachers if we do not pay them fairly.
How will you address underfunded schools in rural areas? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
I will fight on the House floor for federal resources to fix crumbling buildings, reduce overcrowding, and give rural schools the tools they need to compete with wealthier districts.
How will you protect classrooms from politics? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
I believe education should be about preparing kids for life. I will work to fight against politicians who push restrictive ideology into our classrooms.
What about the student debt crisis? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
I will strengthen financial aid, expand loan forgiveness for public servants, and crack down on predatory lending so students can build a future without being trapped by debt.
Why is education so personal to you? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/protecting-education at this heading)
I have worked in the classroom as an ROTC instructor and seen how hard teachers and school service personnel work with too few resources. That experience drives me to fight for fair pay, stronger schools, and real opportunities for every child.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · ojedafornc.com/protecting-education
OUR LAND, NOT THEIRS ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
Clean water and public land are not negotiable.
North Carolina has some of the most beautiful country in America, and it is being treated like a dumping ground. Corporations pour chemicals into our rivers, walk away, and leave working families to drink the water and pay the medical bills. PFAS contamination in the Haw River is not an accident. It is what happens when the people doing the polluting have more pull in Washington than the people living downstream. I am not going to let them sell off our public lands and I am not going to let them poison our water.
- Crack down on corporate pollution and contamination of our natural areas.
- Create good paying union jobs in the green energy sector.
- Build resilience infrastructure to protect communities from the climate crisis.
Clean Water ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
Hold polluters accountable for PFAS and every other chemical they have put in our rivers and wells.
Public Lands ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
Oppose the privatization of national lands. They belong to the American people, not to the highest bidder.
Union Energy Jobs ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
Build the green energy economy here, with union labor and wages a family can actually live on.
Storm Resilience ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
Invest in flood control, drainage, and grid infrastructure so the next storm does not wipe out another town.
COMMON QUESTIONS ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
You should not have to wonder if your tap water is safe.
Every family in this district deserves clean water, land they can pass down, and a home that is still standing after the storm. Here are straight answers to the questions people are asking.
What will you do about PFAS in our water? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
Make the polluters pay for the cleanup instead of the ratepayers. That means enforceable limits with real penalties, federal money for utilities to install treatment, and free testing for families on private wells who have no idea what they are drinking.
Do you support selling off public land? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
No. Every few years somebody in Washington floats the idea of selling public land to close a budget gap. Once it is gone it is gone forever. Those lands belong to all of us, and I will vote against every attempt to hand them over.
Will environmental rules cost us jobs? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
That is the argument they always make and it has never been true. Cleanup work, water treatment, grid upgrades, and energy construction are jobs. My concern is making sure they are union jobs with real wages, not the low pay work that leaves families no better off than before.
What does resilience infrastructure actually mean? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
It means the practical things. Better drainage and flood control in the places that go under every time a hurricane comes through. Stronger power infrastructure so people are not without electricity for a week. Restored wetlands and stream buffers that absorb water before it reaches somebody’s living room.
Why should people trust you on this? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
I come from coal country. I have watched companies take what they wanted out of the ground, leave the mess behind, and move on while the people who lived there got sick and got nothing. I know exactly how that story ends. I am not going to stand by and watch it play out again in North Carolina.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · ojedafornc.com/environment
Heading as listed on ojedafornc.com/environment ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/environment at this heading)
SECURITY AND DIGNITY ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
Enforce the law, secure the border, respect the Constitution.
I am the grandson of a Mexican immigrant and I wore this country’s uniform for 24 years. I do not accept the idea that we have to choose between a secure border and a lawful government. Washington has spent decades using this issue to scare people at election time instead of fixing it. We can protect our national security, protect American wages, and still treat human beings like human beings. That takes an enforcement system that answers to the law and to the people, not one that operates in the dark.
- Replace ICE with an accountable and lawful immigration enforcement system.
- Crack down on cartels and the drug trafficking killing our communities.
- Support lawful, humane immigration reform that actually moves.
Accountable Enforcement ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
Immigration enforcement that is transparent, answers to oversight, and operates inside the Constitution.
Cartels and Trafficking ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
Go after the criminal networks moving drugs and people, with the resources to actually stop them.
Protecting Workers ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
An immigration system that protects American wages instead of letting employers exploit cheap labor.
Lawful Pathways ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
A process that works for asylum seekers, refugees, and families who followed the rules and are still waiting.
COMMON QUESTIONS ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
A country can secure its border and still keep its soul.
Politicians in Washington have run on this issue for thirty years and solved nothing, because the fight is worth more to them than the fix. I am not interested in the fight – only the fix. Here are straight answers to the questions people across this district are asking.
Do you want to abolish immigration enforcement? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
No. I want enforcement that works and follows the law. What we have now is an agency operating with masked agents, little oversight, and no real accountability when it gets things wrong. Replace it with a lawful system that enforces the law and can be held answerable when it breaks it.
How do you stop the drugs coming across the border? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
You go after the cartels directly. That means real investment in detection technology at ports of entry, where most of the fentanyl actually crosses, and going after the money and the trafficking networks instead of chasing headlines.
What about people who came here illegally? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
There has to be a process, and it has to be a real one. People who have worked here for decades, raised families here, and broken no other laws should have a path that involves accountability, not a permanent underclass. People who commit violent crimes should be removed. That is not complicated.
Won't immigration reform hurt American workers? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
It hurts American workers right now. An underground labor market lets employers pay less than the law requires and undercut everybody. Bring it into the light, enforce labor law against the employers doing it, and wages go up for everyone.
Why should people trust you on this? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
Because I have seen both sides of it. My family came here from Mexico and built a life through work. I spent 24 years in the Army defending this country’s borders and its Constitution. I do not need a talking point on this one. I need a system that does both jobs at once.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · ojedafornc.com/immigration
Heading as listed on ojedafornc.com/immigration ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/immigration at this heading)
HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
Healthcare should be about people, not profits or politics.
When politicians and corporations get between patients and doctors, people suffer. I will fight for affordable care, stronger hospitals, and the freedom to make personal healthcare decisions.
- Expand Medicaid in North Carolina and stop federal sabotage by corrupt politicians.
- Cap prescription drug costs and hold Big Pharma accountable.
- Fully fund rural hospitals so care is never hours away.
Affordable Care ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
Nobody should go bankrupt because they got cancer. I will expand Medicaid, lower costs, and make sure healthcare is based on need, not net worth.
Protect Rural Hospitals ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
I will fight for funding so rural hospitals and clinics stay open. No family should drive hours just to see a doctor.
Lower Costs for Prescriptions ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
I will hold Big Pharma accountable and cap prices for life-saving medicine like insulin, so families do not have to choose between food and treatment.
Reproductive Freedom ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
I will codify Roe v. Wade, protect the right to choose, and defend access to birth control, cancer screenings, and prenatal care. Healthcare decisions belong to patients and doctors, not politicians.
COMMON QUESTIONS ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
Real questions about healthcare deserve real answers.
I have talked with parents choosing between insulin and electricity and veterans waiting months for care. Here is how I will fight to make healthcare work for people again.
How will you expand healthcare in North Carolina? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
I will push to expand Medicaid and protect it from federal sabotage. Over two million North Carolinians rely on Medicaid, and I will fight to keep them covered.
What about prescription drug costs? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
I will cap prices, stop Big Pharma’s price gouging, and make sure no one has to choose between insulin and electricity or between food and medication.
How will you pay for expanding healthcare? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
We have the money. It’s about priorities. Instead of tax breaks for billionaires, I will fight to invest in Medicaid, Medicare, and hospitals so families get care without crushing debt.
Where do you stand on reproductive rights? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
Healthcare decisions belong to patients and their doctors, not politicians. I will codify Roe v. Wade and defend access to reproductive care, birth control, and cancer screenings.
What makes you different from other politicians on healthcare? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare at this heading)
I’ve held the hands of soldiers in combat and neighbors in crisis. For me, healthcare isn’t a talking point. It’s life and death, and I take it personally.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · ojedafornc.com/ensuring-quality-healthcare
POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
Working families built this country, and it’s time they get their fair share.
I grew up in a working-class town where people survived on grit, not privilege. I know what it takes to earn a living and I know what happens when politicians and corporations sell workers out. That’s true for factory workers, teachers, and family farmers who are the backbone of North Carolina.
- Raise wages so full-time work means security, not poverty.
- Repeal “Right to Work” laws that weaken unions and keep pay low.
- Support family farms, support trades, and invest in the infrastructure to bring good jobs home.
Fair Wages ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
Nobody working full-time should live in poverty. Raising the federal minimum wage will give families stability and restore dignity to the work that keeps this country alive.
Union Rights ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
Anti-worker laws have weakened unions and kept wages low for decades. Protecting the right to organize will empower workers to demand fair pay and safe workplaces across North Carolina.
Good Jobs & Family Farms ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
Investing in infrastructure, skilled trades, and family farms will create jobs that cannot be outsourced. Rural communities deserve opportunities that sustain both workers and the land they depend on.
Corporate Accountability ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
Billionaires dodge taxes while workers and farmers struggle to survive. Cracking down on union-busting CEOs and holding corporations accountable will finally put power back where it belongs: with working families.
COMMON QUESTIONS ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
Here’s the truth about standing up for working families.
This country was built by working people, not hedge fund managers. And it’s time we put power back where it belongs: in the hands of the folks who clock in, punch out, and keep this country alive. Too many politicians dodge these conversations. I won’t. I’ve lived this life, and I know what’s at stake for workers, farmers, and families across North Carolina.
Why do you fight so hard for unions? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
Because unions built the middle class. Organizing gives workers power, raises wages, and protects communities. Without strong unions, workers are left at the mercy of corporations.
What about “Right to Work” laws in North Carolina? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
These laws were written to weaken workers. Repealing them will allow unions to bargain for fair wages, safe conditions, and the dignity every worker deserves.
How will you bring good jobs to rural areas? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
I will push for investments in infrastructure, skilled trades, and family farms. North Carolina’s rural communities deserve jobs that sustain families and keep towns alive.
What sets you apart from other politicians on labor issues? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
I am a union man myself. I have walked the picket lines, fought for fair wages, and never backed down from CEOs or politicians who sold out workers.
Why should working families trust you? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families at this heading)
Because I have lived their life. I grew up in a working-class town, saw my father work long hours, and I will never forget where I came from.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · ojedafornc.com/standing-up-for-working-families
HANDS OFF SOCIAL SECURITY ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
Social Security is a promise, and I will make sure it’s kept.
Social Security is not a handout. It’s not an entitlement. It’s a guarantee that after a lifetime of work, your country will not abandon you. That promise is under attack, and I will not let it be broken.
- Protect and strengthen Social Security for current and future generations.
- Oppose raising the retirement age or privatizing the system.
- Make billionaires pay their fair share to keep the program strong.
Protect the Promise ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
Social Security is a contract with working people. I will fight to protect and strengthen it, not cut it or gamble it away in risky schemes.
No Retirement Age Hikes ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
Raising the retirement age cheats workers who built this country. I will oppose it at every turn and defend benefits for those who earned them.
Make the Billionaires Pay ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
Billionaires dodge their responsibility while workers fund the system. I will demand the wealthy pay their share to secure Social Security for the future.
Fight Misinformation ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
Politicians spread lies to scare people about Social Security. I will call out misinformation and make clear the program is strong if we choose to protect it.
COMMON QUESTIONS ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
Here’s the truth about standing up for working families.
I hear from seniors, veterans, and families who are worried about the future of the benefits they’ve paid into their entire lives. Here are my straight answers about how I’ll defend Social Security.
Isn’t Social Security going broke? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
That’s the lie politicians use to scare you. Social Security is solvent if we protect it and make the wealthy pay their fair share. It’s only “broke” if Washington chooses to break it.
Is Social Security really at risk? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
Yes. And that’s because Trump and his allies keep pushing plans to cut benefits and raise the retirement age to give tax breaks to billionaires. I will fight every attempt to weaken the system working people paid for and rely on.
How will you keep Social Security strong for the future? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
I will make the billionaire class pay their fair share, close tax loopholes, and ensure the program is fully funded so future generations can count on it.
What do you say to billionaires like Elon Musk? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
To a man who’s never worked a regular job in his life? One who had the audacity to call Social Security a “scam” and say we should “move on” from it? This billionaire built his empire off the backs of taxpayers and workers, and now he wants to rip away the one safety net we’ve got left?
I say hell no.
Why fight raising the retirement age? ↗ (opens ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2 at this heading)
Because I know what 40 years on your feet does to a body. Telling a mill worker with bad knees to work another five years is cruel, and I won’t allow it.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · ojedafornc.com/saving-social-security-2