Richard Hudson is the Republican incumbent for North Carolina's 9th Congressional District, first elected in 2012.[1][2] A Charlotte-area native and former congressional staffer and political campaign aide, he chairs the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee.[1][2][3][4] He is running for re-election.[1]
Hudson grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and graduated from Myers Park High School; Wikipedia gives his birthplace as Franklin, Virginia, and his birth date as November 4, 1971.[2][4] He earned a B.A. in history and political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where, according to his House website, he was student body president.[1][2]
Hudson began his career in Republican politics, serving as district director for Rep. Robin Hayes from 1999 to 2005 and on the staffs of other Republican members of Congress, according to Wikipedia; Ballotpedia describes his professional experience as working as a staffer in Washington, D.C.[1][4] He worked on Pat McCrory's 2008 campaign for governor and, according to Wikipedia, started a small business consulting and marketing company, Cabarrus Marketing Group, in 2011.[4]
Hudson won the Republican nomination in a July 2012 runoff over Scott Keadle and defeated Democratic incumbent Larry Kissell in the November 2012 general election for the district then numbered the 8th, taking office in January 2013.[1] On the Energy and Commerce Committee he previously served on the Communications and Technology, Environment and Climate Change, and Health Subcommittees; in the 2025-2026 Congress he chairs the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.[1] He was elected chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2022, becoming the highest-ranking Republican member of Congress from North Carolina in history according to Carolina Journal, and was re-elected to a second term after the 2024 elections.[2][3] According to his House website, he authored H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, and has led legislation on military pay and tax relief for service members and on veterans' health care.[2]
Hudson's past volunteer service includes the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors of the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association, the Board of Managers of the West Cabarrus YMCA, and the Cabarrus Jaycees board.[2] According to his House website, he lives in Southern Pines with his wife, Renee, and their son.[2]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.