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Fayetteville, Cumberland County

Fayetteville: Ojeda leads Hudson in unofficial 9th District returns; Hudson concedes

Unofficial State Board tallies with all precincts in put Democrat Richard Ojeda ahead of Republican Rep. Richard Hudson, 138,707 to 132,692. Hudson conceded Wednesday. Not certified.

DevelopingOfficials are still releasing information. We update this story as facts are confirmed.

By Alexandru Stanciu · Published

The Market House on Hay Street in downtown Fayetteville

File photo: Epicjeff (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • Unofficial North Carolina State Board of Elections tallies for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, with all precincts reporting, listed Democrat Richard Ojeda (also reported as Richard N. Ojeda II) with 138,707 votes (51.11%) and Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson with 132,692 votes (48.89%) in the 9th Congressional District.Confirmed by North Carolina State Board of Elections unofficial tallies, as reported by Carolina Journal (Nov. 4, 2026) and matching unofficial figures carried by The Washington Times (Nov. 4, 2026)
  • WRAL independently reported that Ojeda defeated Hudson in a district that stretches from the Fort Bragg and Fayetteville area through Chatham and Randolph counties into Guilford and Alamance suburbs, and that unofficial results showed Ojeda winning by about 2 percentage points after a roughly 15-point swing from Trump's 2024 margin in the district.Confirmed by WRAL (Will Doran, Nov. 4–5, 2026)
  • NC Newsline independently reported that Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, conceded Wednesday and released a statement saying, "Last night, the voters of North Carolina's 9th District made their choice, and I respect it." ABC11 separately carried Hudson saying the voters made their choice and that he respects it.Confirmed by NC Newsline (Clayton Henkel, Nov. 4, 2026); ABC11 (Nov. 4–5, 2026)
  • NC Newsline wrote that Hudson called the seat the honor of his life and said he had the privilege of being Fort Bragg's congressman, and that he quoted Ronald Reagan about losing a skirmish while the battle goes on. The Washington Times wrote that Hudson said he had called Ojeda to congratulate him and looked forward to a smooth transition.Confirmed by NC Newsline (Nov. 4, 2026); The Washington Times (Nov. 4, 2026)
  • WRAL described Ojeda as a former paratrooper who spent years stationed at Fort Bragg and who retired as an Army major. ABC11 described him as a retired Army major. Carolina Journal also identified him as a retired Army major and former West Virginia state senator.Confirmed by WRAL, ABC11 and Carolina Journal (Nov. 4, 2026)
  • NC Newsline quoted Ojeda saying the win belongs to teachers, nurses, veterans, families at Fort Bragg and working people. WRAL separately quoted Ojeda after the win saying it is time to do something for working-class people.Confirmed by NC Newsline and WRAL (Nov. 4, 2026)

Still unknown

  • Final certified district totals after provisional ballots and the county canvasses
  • Any recount request

What this means for you

Instructions from North Carolina State Board of Elections

This site is not an elections office. Unofficial results are on the State Board's election-results site. Certified results come later from the county canvasses. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

What happened

In Fayetteville and across the 9th Congressional District, Democrat Richard Ojeda is leading Republican U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson in unofficial returns after the Nov. 3 election, and Hudson conceded the race on Wednesday.

Unofficial North Carolina State Board of Elections tallies with all precincts reporting, as published by Carolina Journal and matching figures carried nationally the same day, listed Ojeda with 138,707 votes (51.11%) and Hudson with 132,692 (48.89%). Those figures are not certified.

WRAL independently reported that Ojeda defeated Hudson in a district that runs from the Fort Bragg and Fayetteville area through Chatham and Randolph counties into Guilford and Alamance suburbs. That station put the unofficial margin at about 2 percentage points after a roughly 15-point swing from the district's 2024 presidential result.

NC Newsline wrote that Hudson, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, conceded Wednesday and said, "Last night, the voters of North Carolina's 9th District made their choice, and I respect it." ABC11 carried the same respect-the-choice line. The Washington Times separately reported that he called Ojeda to congratulate him and pledged a smooth transition.

WRAL, ABC11 and Carolina Journal all describe Ojeda as a retired Army major; WRAL also noted years stationed at Fort Bragg. NC Newsline quoted Ojeda saying the win belongs to teachers, nurses, veterans, Fort Bragg families and working people.

This site is not an elections office. Certified results come later from the county canvasses. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Related coverage

Why it matters

The 9th District includes Fayetteville and Fort Bragg. Unofficial State Board tallies and Hudson's concession put Ojeda ahead before certification.

Updates

  1. Nov 4, 2026, 10:12 PM

    First file from unofficial NCSBE tallies via Carolina Journal (138,707–132,692), WRAL on the defeat and district map, NC Newsline and ABC11 on Hudson's Wednesday concession statement, and Washington Times on the call to Ojeda and matching vote totals.

Sources

  1. Unofficial NCSBE 9th District tallies as documented by Carolina Journal (Katherine Zehnder, Nov. 4, 2026, with State Board screenshot: Ojeda 138,707 / 51.11%; Hudson 132,692 / 48.89%; all precincts. Carolina Journal also identifies Ojeda as a retired Army major and former West Virginia state senator and Hudson as NRCC chair. Text-only; no Carolina Journal photos used.)

    Official sourcePublished by North Carolina State Board of Elections (via Carolina Journal) · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 10:05 PM

  2. Democrats storm to surprise US House victories in NC, led by ex-paratrooper and an anti-war message (WRAL / Will Doran, posted Nov. 4, 2026, updated Nov. 5: Ojeda defeated Hudson; district from Fayetteville/Fort Bragg through Chatham and Randolph into Guilford and Alamance; about 2% unofficial win and about 15-point swing from 2024 Trump margin; Ojeda former paratrooper, retired major; Hudson NRCC chair; Ojeda working-class quote. Text-only; no WRAL photos used.)

    Published by WRAL · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 10:05 PM

  3. US Reps. Hudson and McDowell concede races in 2 of NC's most stunning election upsets (NC Newsline / Clayton Henkel, Nov. 4, 2026: Hudson conceded Wednesday; statement respecting the voters' choice; Fort Bragg congressman line; Reagan skirmish line; Ojeda quote on Fort Bragg families and working people; unofficial all-precinct margin just over 6,000 votes, about 51% to 49%. Text-only; no NC Newsline photos used.)

    Published by NC Newsline · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 10:05 PM

  4. Ojeda poised to unseat Hudson in major Sandhills shakeup (ABC11 / Penelope Lopez, Nov. 4–5, 2026: Ojeda retired Army major; ABC News numbers about 51% to 48%; district includes Fort Bragg; Hudson statement that voters made their choice and he respects it. Text-only; no ABC11 photos used.)

    Published by ABC11 · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 10:05 PM

  5. N.C. Rep. Hudson congratulates winning Democratic challenger Richard Ojeda (The Washington Times, Nov. 4, 2026: Hudson conceded Wednesday; called Ojeda; congratulated him and pledged a smooth transition; unofficial all-precinct totals 138,707 to 132,692, about 6,000 votes or 2 points. Text-only; no Washington Times photos used.)

    Published by The Washington Times · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 10:05 PM

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