Richard Ojeda
Richard Ojeda
NC-09 Democratic nominee?
$1.0K
MAR 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderMale
LocationNorth Carolina
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BackgroundU.S. Army officer (retired; Major)
EducationWest Virginia State University (B.A.)
Notable personal detailsRichard Neece Ojeda II is a retired U.S. Army major and former West Virginia state senator who represented the 7th District from 2017 to 2019. He was the Democratic nominee for West Virginia's 3rd congressional district in 2018 and later ran for president in 2020. He moved back to North Carolina after military service at Fort Bragg and ran for U.S. House in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District, winning the Democratic primary in March 2026.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Richard Ojeda has publicly supported raising taxes on corporations and wealthy interests, including calling for higher corporate taxes on coal and gas companies to fund public services and offset spending cuts. His campaign emphasizes taxing the powerful and investing in working families, veterans, education, and social programs.
Healthcare
Supports Medicare for All and describes healthcare as a right; advocates expanding Medicaid, capping prescription drug costs, funding rural hospitals, protecting Medicare and Medicaid, and codifying reproductive rights. Prior statements call for holding Big Pharma accountable and including addiction recovery as part of the healthcare system.
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Immigration & Border
Supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, while also expressing concern about illegal immigration and support for some border/enforcement measures. Endorses comprehensive immigration reform that includes background checks, steady employment history, and fines as part of legalization pathways.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports codifying Roe v. Wade and protecting the right to choose, defends access to reproductive care including birth control and prenatal services, and states healthcare decisions belong to patients and doctors rather than politicians.
Climate & Energy
Richard Ojeda has repeatedly emphasized support for the coal industry and coal miners while opposing what he describes as a “war on coal,” and he prioritizes workers’ jobs and pensions in energy communities. He has expressed skepticism of big energy influence in politics and also said environmental protections for water and air are important, but his positions prioritize maintaining fossil-fuel jobs and domestic energy.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate has expressed support for the Second Amendment and at times said he did not believe additional gun restrictions were needed, while also calling for stronger gun restrictions after the August 2019 mass shootings and criticizing pro-gun-rights politicians and the NRA. His statements show both pro-gun-rights and pro-restriction rhetoric.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
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