Stunning upset as Democrat topples Richard Hudson, the very man in charge of keeping Republicans in power: ‘No freaking way!’

Democrat Richard Ojeda defeated Republican Richard Hudson in North Carolina’s Ninth congressional district, overturning a seat considered safe for the incumbent. Hudson, a 14-year congressman who leads the Republicans’ House campaign committee, conceded after the result shocked party leaders and operatives.

With 95 per cent of votes counted, Ojeda had 138,707 votes to Hudson’s 132,692; Hudson’s campaign spent about $2 million. The result came amid a strong statewide showing for Democrats, including Roy Cooper’s Senate victory and Jamie Ager’s flip of the 11th district. Two other Republican incumbents, Virginia Foxx and Greg Murphy, were still awaiting final results, with both races close.