This story was originally published by NC Newsline.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is adding North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District to its “Districts in Play” program, targeting longtime Republican incumbent Rep. Richard Hudson.
This program focuses on competitive districts held by vulnerable Republicans across the country as Democrats seek to regain a majority in the House, according to a Wednesday announcement. Other targets include Reps. Greg Murphy in NC-03 and Chuck Edwards in NC-11.
It’s a bold move. Hudson has served as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee for three years, raising money for the U.S. House Republican Caucus and deciding where it needs to spend that money to pick up or defend seats.
North Carolina’s 9th district has long been considered a safe Republican seat. The district includes parts or all of seven counties, including portions of Cumberland County and Fort Bragg, and much of the City of Fayetteville and Spring Lake.
In 2024, Hudson defeated Democrat Nigel William Bristow by 18% of the vote. President Donald Trump carried the district that year by a similar margin.
The GOP isn’t worried about the seat. Members view the addition as Democrats baiting them to spend more money in the district, diverting resources away from tighter races.
“National Democrats know they can’t beat Chairman Hudson on his record, so they’re trying to buy what they can’t earn,” NRCC spokesperson Will Kiley said. “This is what desperation looks like with a checkbook.”
But Democrats are hopeful about Alamance and Guilford counties, which first became a part of Hudson’s district for the 2024 cycle. Democrat Josh Stein won both in the gubernatorial contest that same year.
DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus said North Carolina voters aren’t happy with Hudson’s record of attacking affordable health care and hurting working families. Democrats are also inspired by members of the party overperforming in special elections this cycle, although she said the DCCC has not conducted recent polling in the district.
“Voters know Richard Hudson is responsible for House Republicans’ disastrous anti-working family platform crushing North Carolinians,” DCCC chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement. “A protector of corruption, and self-interested Republicans at the expense of North Carolina’s working families, Hudson does not work for this community.”
At the moment, Republicans hold a 218-212 majority in the House, with four vacancies. One independent, Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, caucuses with the Republicans.
Richard Ojeda: ‘This Race Is Winnable’
Democrat Richard Ojeda, a former Army major and West Virginia state senator, is facing Hudson in November.
Ojeda spent about 15 years at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville during his military career. Upon moving to West Virginia, he won election to the state Senate in 2016.
He’s no stranger to running in Republican areas. In 2018, Ojeda ran for an open U.S. House seat in West Virginia, in a district Trump carried by 49 points two years prior. Trump treated it as a serious threat, visiting the state three times that fall to stump for Republican Carol Miller. While Ojeda lost by 13 points, it was a drastic improvement from Hillary Clinton’s showing there in 2016.
His performance led to calls for him to run for president in 2020, which he briefly did before dropping out and challenging U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito. Ojeda did not win the Democratic nomination in the primary election.
After that, he returned to North Carolina. Ojeda has raised $2.2 million since he launched his campaign, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
“This race is winnable, and people are seeing that our hard work is paying off,” Ojeda said in a statement. “This district has been shifting, because people here are tired of having a member of Congress beholden to the MAGA machine in Washington.”
Hudson has been in office since 2013, with his district previously numbered as the 8th. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
As NRCC chair, Hudson is the fifth-ranking member in Republican leadership and the highest-ranking Republican member of Congress from North Carolina in history, according to the committee.
Hudson has raised $3.2 million so far during this election cycle, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Both parties are funding candidates across the Tar Heel State.
The DCCC previously added Jamie Ager, a fourth-generation farmer from a political family, to its “Red to Blue” program, supporting his bid to oust Edwards in Western North Carolina. They’re also investing in Rep. Don Davis, an incumbent in the 1st Congressional District, the most competitive of the state.
Republicans aren’t backing down. They’re aiming for NC-01 as well, adding Army Veteran Laurie Buckhout to the NRCC’s “MAGA Majority” program. U.S. House Majority Leader Mike Johnson, R-La., campaigned with Buckhout in the district this week.
Over in the Senate, Democrats view North Carolina’s open seat as one of their best pick-up opportunities in 2026. Recent polls show Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper leading former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley, with Cooper also well ahead of Whatley in fundraising.
The general election takes place November 3.
