Richard Ojeda Bio: Age, Height, Wife Kelly Ojeda, Career, Congress 2026, Net Worth & Facts
Richard Ojeda pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 midterms. On November 3, the retired Army major and former West Virginia state senator beat Republican Richard Hudson in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District — knocking out the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee in a district Republicans had held since 1963.
Ojeda is not a typical freshman congressman. He spent 25 years in the Army, taught JROTC, became a folk hero of the 2018 West Virginia teachers’ strike, ran a short-lived presidential campaign, and moved back to North Carolina to try again. This biography covers his age, wife Kelly Ojeda, military record, career, net worth, and the 2026 race that made him a national name.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Richard Neece Ojeda II |
| Nick Name | Ojeda |
| Profession | Politician, Retired U.S. Army Major, Teacher |
| Birth Date | September 25, 1970 |
| Age | 56 years 1 month old |
| Birth Place | Rochester, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mexican American and Italian American |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Height | Not publicly disclosed |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Hair Color | Gray |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Qualification | BA, West Virginia State University; MBA, Webster University |
| Religion | Christian (not publicly detailed) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Kelly Ojeda |
| Children | Three |
| Family Tree | Wife Kelly Ojeda; three children; father Richard Ojeda Sr. (died November 2026); mother Florena |
| Hobbies | Veterans’ advocacy, community volunteering, high school sports |
| Current Work | U.S. Representative-elect for North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District |
| Years Active | 2014–present in politics; 1989–2014 in the U.S. Army |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
His name trended alongside Richard Hudson, Hakeem Jeffries, James Talarico, Abdul El-Sayed, Jon Ossoff, Gina Hinojosa, and Rob Sand as Democrats celebrated a surprisingly strong midterm night.
Early Life & Education
Richard Neece Ojeda II was born on September 25, 1970, in Rochester, Minnesota, but he grew up in Logan, West Virginia, deep in coal country. His father, Richard Ojeda Sr., worked as a nurse anesthetist and served in the Korean War; his mother, Florena, raised the family in a community where mining was the main employer.
He graduated from Logan High School in 1988. In his own words, the options for a kid in his town were limited: “Where I come from, when you graduate high school, there’s only three choices — dig coal, sell dope, or join the Army. And I chose the military.”
Ojeda enlisted in the Army in 1989, later completed officer training, and earned a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia State University plus an MBA from Webster University. He became a Democrat at 18 because his parents were Democrats, and he has described himself as a working-class populist ever since.
Career Journey
25 Years in the U.S. Army
Ojeda served from 1989 to 2014, rising from enlisted soldier to major. He deployed to Iraq with the 20th Engineer Brigade and served in Afghanistan, earning two Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, and seven Army Commendation Medals. He also qualified as a Master Parachutist and earned a Combat Action Badge.
Much of his career was spent at Fort Bragg, near Fayetteville, North Carolina — the state he would later represent. After retiring, he worked as a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps teacher and started a nonprofit, Logan Empowerment Action and Development, which ran community cleanups, Christmas toy drives, meal programs, and shoe drives for kids.
West Virginia Senate and the Teachers’ Strike
In 2016, Ojeda won a seat in the West Virginia Senate representing the 7th District, beating an incumbent in the Democratic primary. He sponsored the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act, which was signed into law in April 2017, and became one of the loudest supporters of legalizing medical marijuana in a state hit hard by the opioid crisis.
He became a national figure during the 2018 West Virginia teachers’ strike. His vocal support turned him into something of a folk hero among teachers and union members, and chants of “Ojeda” followed him around the state. That same year he ran for Congress in West Virginia’s 3rd District, losing to Republican Carol Miller but outperforming his district’s partisan lean by about 25 points — the strongest showing for a non-incumbent that cycle, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Presidential Run and Senate Bid
In November 2018, Ojeda announced a long-shot campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, pitching himself as a working-class champion who could win back Trump voters. He suspended the campaign in January 2019 after failing to gain traction. He then ran for the U.S. Senate in West Virginia in 2020, finishing second in the Democratic primary with about 33 percent of the vote.
He resigned from the West Virginia Senate in January 2019 to focus on the presidential bid, then briefly asked to rescind the resignation — an awkward episode that added to his reputation as an impulsive but authentic operator.
North Carolina’s 9th District (2026)
Ojeda moved back to North Carolina in 2020, where he had lived for more than 15 years during his military career. In 2025 he announced a campaign against Republican Richard Hudson, the NRCC chairman. By October 2025 he had raised $1.2 million from 20,000 donors, with an average contribution of $16 — a grassroots number that got noticed in Washington.
He won the Democratic nomination on March 3, 2026, then beat Hudson in the November 3 general election with 51.1 percent of the vote. The final margin was 3,029 votes, or 2.22 percentage points, in a district that had elected Republicans for more than six decades. He takes office on January 3, 2027.
Career Stats
- Military service: 1989–2014 (25 years), retired as a major
- West Virginia Senate: 2016–2019
- 2018 U.S. House run: lost, but outperformed district lean by ~25 points
- 2020 Senate primary: 33 percent, second place
- 2026 NC-9 result: 51.1 percent, won by 3,029 votes
- 2026 fundraising: $1.2 million from 20,000 donors, average $16
Personal Life
Ojeda is married to Kelly Ojeda, and the couple has three children. The family has lived in North Carolina and West Virginia, and Ojeda often talks about his kids when he explains why he cares about veterans’ benefits, schools, and health care.
In November 2026, his father died just days after the election. Ojeda told local reporters that he was grateful he got to tell his father about the win before he passed. It was a bittersweet ending to the biggest week of his political life.
- Wife: Kelly Ojeda
- Children: Three
- Parents: Richard Ojeda Sr. and Florena Ojeda
- Home base: North Carolina
Dating History and Affairs
There is no public dating history or affair scandal connected to Richard Ojeda. He has been married to Kelly Ojeda throughout his political career, and she has appeared alongside him at campaign events and community functions. The couple keeps their children out of the spotlight.
His opponents have attacked his policy positions and his blunt style, but not his marriage. Through November 2026, no credible report has raised questions about his personal life.
Controversies
The Trump vote. Ojeda has said he voted for Donald Trump in 2016 because he thought Trump would help West Virginians. By 2018 he had changed his mind, saying Trump “hasn’t done shit” for the people he claimed to be fighting for. The quote followed him for years.
Off-the-cuff style. His unpolished comments were featured in Michael Moore’s 2018 documentary “Fahrenheit 11/9,” and his opponent’s campaign used them to question his temperament and patriotism. Supporters call it authenticity; critics call it a liability.
The resignation reversal. After resigning from the West Virginia Senate in January 2019 to run for president, Ojeda asked whether he could take it back. The episode embarrassed him and gave Republicans a talking point about his judgment.
Short-lived campaigns. His 2020 presidential bid lasted about two months, and he lost the 2020 Senate primary. Critics said he chased headlines; he said he was trying to give working people a voice.
Awards & Achievements
- Two Bronze Star Medals for service in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Two Meritorious Service Medals and seven Army Commendation Medals
- Combat Action Badge and Master Parachutist Badge
- Elected to the West Virginia Senate in 2016
- Sponsored West Virginia’s medical cannabis law, signed in 2017
- Defeated NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson in 2026, flipping a district Republicans had held since 1963
- Set to become North Carolina’s first Mexican American member of Congress
Physical Statistics
- Height: Not publicly disclosed
- Weight: Not publicly disclosed
- Build: Stocky and solid
- Hair Color: Gray
- Eye Color: Brown
- Style: Casual — jeans, boots, and a jacket are his campaign uniform
Quotes
“I lost a lot of friends in a war sold on a lie, and I’m going to Congress to make sure nobody’s kid gets sent to another one.”
Richard Ojeda, statement after winning NC-9, November 2026, as reported by WUNC
“This district gave a kid from the West Virginia coal fields a chance, and I will never forget it.”
Richard Ojeda, victory statement, November 2026, as reported by WUNC
“We just unseated the chair of the NRCC. It’s a new day in America.”
Richard Ojeda, post on X after the race was called, as reported by the North State Journal
Favorites
- Favorite place: The West Virginia hills where he grew up
- Favorite people: Veterans, teachers, and union workers
- Favorite causes: Veterans’ health care, medical cannabis, and working-class jobs
- Favorite campaign style: Town halls and county fairs rather than fancy fundraisers
- Favorite food: Home-style Southern cooking (not publicly detailed beyond that)
Earnings
Richard Ojeda’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed. He has not released a personal financial statement, and no reliable outlet has published a verified figure. Any specific number online should be treated as a guess.
His income has come from his military pension, teaching, and now his congressional salary, which is $174,000 a year for rank-and-file members. His 2026 campaign raised $1.2 million from small donors, but campaign funds are not personal income and cannot be used for personal expenses.
Interesting Facts
- He spent 25 years in the Army, starting as an enlisted soldier and retiring as a major.
- He was a JROTC teacher before entering politics.
- He became a folk hero during the 2018 West Virginia teachers’ strike.
- He ran for president in 2020, then ran for the Senate instead.
- He won NC-9 by just 3,029 votes.
- He is one of at least six Democrats to win a district Trump carried by 10 points or more in 2024.
Did You Know Already?
- He will be North Carolina’s first Mexican American member of Congress.
- The 9th District had not elected a Democrat since 1963.
- His average campaign donation in 2025 was just $16.
- He was born in Minnesota but built his political identity in West Virginia.
- He speaks with a thick Appalachian accent that became part of his brand.
Social Media Links
Note: Ojeda’s official congressional office page will launch after he is sworn in on January 3, 2027. We do not list unverified personal accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Richard Ojeda?
He was born on September 25, 1970, which makes him 56 years old in 2026.
Is Richard Ojeda married?
Yes. He is married to Kelly Ojeda, and they have three children.
How tall is Richard Ojeda?
His height has not been published by a reliable source, so we list it as private instead of guessing.
Did Richard Ojeda win in 2026?
Yes. He beat Republican Richard Hudson in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District with 51.1 percent of the vote, a margin of 3,029 votes.
What is Richard Ojeda’s net worth?
It has not been publicly disclosed. His income includes a military pension, teaching work, and his upcoming congressional salary of $174,000.
When does he take office?
He is scheduled to be sworn in on January 3, 2027, at the start of the 120th Congress.
Is he the first Hispanic congressman from North Carolina?
Yes. His victory makes him the first Mexican American and first Hispanic member of Congress elected from North Carolina.
Conclusion
Richard Ojeda’s win is the kind of story that makes political consultants rewrite their playbooks: a gravel-voiced Army veteran, a $16 average donation, and a Republican district that had not gone blue since the Kennedy administration. Whether his populist style works inside the House is the next question, but he has already proved he can surprise the establishment.
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