Richard Ojeda

DFormer West Virginia State Senator (2017-2019)

Won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with 41.8% of the vote over three challengers.

Richard Ojeda is the Democratic nominee for North Carolina's 9th Congressional District, a retired U.S. Army major who served 15 years at Fort Bragg and later served one term as a West Virginia state senator before moving to North Carolina.[4]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

On the record — official actions

actionAs a West Virginia state senator, says he helped pass a medical cannabis law and helped secure teacher pay raises following a statewide teachers' strike.[5]

Positions on the issues

SupportsRaise the minimum wage
Supports raising the federal minimum wage and tying it to the cost of living.[5]
“Raising the federal minimum wage will give families stability and restore dignity to the work that keeps this country alive.”
SupportsExpand public health coverage
Supports expanding Medicaid in North Carolina and capping prescription drug costs.[5]
“Expand Medicaid in North Carolina and stop federal sabotage by corrupt politicians. Cap prescription drug costs and hold Big Pharma accountable.”
SupportsProtect legal access to abortion
Supports codifying Roe v. Wade and protecting access to abortion, birth control, and reproductive health care.[5]
“I will codify Roe v. Wade, protect the right to choose, and defend access to birth control, cancer screenings, and prenatal care.”
SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Wants billionaires to pay more to fund Social Security and opposes cutting benefits or raising the retirement age.[5]
“Make billionaires pay their fair share to keep the program strong.”
OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
As the grandson of a Mexican immigrant, says the immigration enforcement system needs due process restored and criticizes current enforcement tactics.[5]
“I also believe we must restore due process and fix an immigration system that has lost its moral compass. Masked agents disappearing people off the streets must end.”

In their words — priorities

Wants to tie the minimum wage to the cost of living and exempt the first $45,000 of income from federal income tax.[5]
Wants to end partisan gerrymandering and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.[5]
Says he entered the race to protect veterans and military families around Fort Bragg after Department of Government Efficiency-driven cuts to VA jobs.[5]

Background

Born September 25, 1970 in Rochester, Minnesota; raised in Logan County, West Virginia, and graduated from Logan High School in 1988.[4]
Enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1989 and served 24 years, including multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and 15 years stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina's 9th District; retired as a Major in 2013.[4][5]
Earned a bachelor's degree from West Virginia State College in 1997.[4]
Served as a member of the West Virginia State Senate representing District 7 from 2016 to January 2019, where he says he helped teachers win raises after a statewide strike and helped pass medical cannabis legislation.[5]

Campaign money