Wikipedia

Richard Ojeda

(Redirected from Richard Ojeda 2020 presidential campaign)

Richard Neece Ojeda II (/oʊˈdʒɛdə/ oh-JED-ə; born October 25, 1970) is an American politician and retired United States Army major who served in the West Virginia Senate representing the 7th district from January 2017 until January 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he ran a brief campaign for President of the United States in the 2020 election.

Richard Ojeda
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 7th district
In office
January 11, 2017 – January 9, 2019
Preceded byArt Kirkendoll
Succeeded byPaul Hardesty
Personal details
BornRichard Neece Ojeda II
(1970-10-25) October 25, 1970 (age 55)
Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseKelly Ojeda
Children3
EducationWest Virginia State University (BA)
Webster University (MBA)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service
1989–2014
RankMajor
Unit10th Mountain Division
20th Engineer Brigade
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsBronze Star Medal (2)
Full list

Raised in Logan, West Virginia, Ojeda graduated from West Virginia State University and Webster University. He initially joined the United States Army as an enlisted soldier and went through officer training after finishing college. During his 25 years in the military, Ojeda earned two Bronze Star Medals and rose to the rank of major. He served two tours of duty in Iraq and spent over fifteen years during his service at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina. After retiring, he initially worked as a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps teacher before running for office.

Ojeda was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 2016. He received national attention during his 2018 campaign for the United States House of Representatives, when he became a vocal supporter of the 2018 teachers' strike and advocated for the legalization of cannabis in West Virginia. In November 2018, Ojeda announced his candidacy for president in the 2020 election, but he dropped out in January 2019 when his campaign failed to gain traction. In January 2020, Ojeda announced he would instead challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito in the 2020 election, but he failed to secure the Democratic nomination in the primary. He has since moved back to North Carolina, and won the Democratic primary for North Carolina's 9th congressional district in the 2026 election in March 2026.

Early life and education

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Ojeda was born in Rochester, Minnesota, the son of Florena (Pansera) and Richard N. Ojeda.[1] He was born into a Democratic family and he registered as a Democrat. He remarked that "back when I was in high school, being a Republican was like cursing". Ojeda's paternal grandfather, Senon H. Ojeda, was an immigrant from the Mexican state of Jalisco who came to West Virginia during the coal boom to try and make a living, and later gained citizenship. One of Ojeda's grandparents died in a mining accident after fighting in World War II. Ojeda's father was born in the United States, but moved to Mexico and lived there until the age of eight. Ojeda's father worked as a nurse anaesthetist.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Ojeda also has Italian ancestry.[8]

Ojeda graduated from Logan High School in 1988.[4][2] He earned a bachelor's degree in General Education from West Virginia State University and a master's degree in Business and Organizational Security from Webster University.[9]

Military service and teaching career

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Ojeda (left) in Haiti in 2010, assisting with relief efforts after the 2010 earthquake

Ojeda said "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". He served 25 years in the United States Army, starting as an enlisted soldier before going through officer training and rising to the rank of major.[2] His first orders sent him to serve in North Carolina at Fort Bragg in 1997, where he would spend the majority of his military career.[10] In 2004, he assumed command of a company in the 20th Engineer Brigade and immediately deployed with them to Iraq as part of the Iraq War.[2][11] He earned two Bronze Stars.[2] During his service, he also spent time in South Korea, Honduras, Jordan, Haiti, Afghanistan.[2] When not deployed abroad, Ojeda spent over 15 years based back at Fort Bragg, the post he was first ordered to upon entering the Army, when not deployed abroad.[10]

After retiring from the military, Ojeda worked as a Junior ROTC instructor at Chapmanville Regional High School from 2013 to 2017, resigning due to time constraints related to his service as state senator, in addition with his run for Congress.[12][13] He helped start a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps at a local high school. He established a social services nonprofit, the Logan Empowerment Action and Development, which engaged in community cleanup, Christmas toy drives, providing meals for the needy, and raising money for shoes for kids. During this time, Ojeda also started penning letters to the editor of the Logan Banner. As a result, Ojeda was invited by Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia to the 2013 State of the Union address as a guest. Ojeda decided to enter politics while listening to Manchin discuss disparities in allocation of "manufacturing hubs" to different regions of West Virginia.[2]

Political career

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Ojeda entered politics in 2014, running for Congress in West Virginia's 3rd District. He garnered 34% of the vote in the Democratic primary, losing to incumbent Nick Rahall, whom Ojeda challenged on the grounds that the incumbent was not doing enough to advance the interests of the district.[14][15]

West Virginia Senate

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Ojeda was assaulted at a primary campaign event on May 8, 2016, in Logan County, West Virginia. The assailant, Jonathan S. Porter, who had ties to Ojeda's opponent, received 1–5 years in prison, and a $500 fine as a part of a plea deal.[15][16][17][18] Ojeda went on to win the Democratic primary for the 7th District of the West Virginia Senate, defeating incumbent Art Kirkendoll.[17] In the general election, held on November 8, 2016, he defeated Republican Jordan Bridges by almost 18 points.[19]

In the West Virginia Senate, Ojeda sponsored the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act, legislation to legalize medical marijuana, which was signed into law by Governor Jim Justice on April 19, 2017.[20][2] In the Senate, he called for increases in teacher wages, arguing that low pay would lead to strikes and teachers leaving the state.[12] In January 2018, he criticized West Virginia Governor Jim Justice's proposed 1–2% increase in teacher wages, saying it was insufficient.[12]

Ojeda has stated "I don't think I've ever voted for a Democrat for president" and supported Donald Trump in 2016.[21][22] He told Politico that he voted for Trump because he initially believed Trump would do something for West Virginians. By 2018, he expressed regret for voting for Trump, saying that "he hasn't done shit" and he is "taking care of the daggone people he's supposed to be getting rid of".[2] Ojeda said he supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary.[23]

Ojeda resigned from the West Virginia Senate on January 14, 2019, citing frustration with the legislature's slow pace and his inability to accomplish all his legislative goals.[24]

Teacher strikes

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Ojeda rose to prominence for his early support of and leading role in the 2018 West Virginia teachers' strike.[7] A month before the strike, Ojeda, in a speech on the Senate floor, called on his fellow legislators to heed the complaints and requests of teachers lest a strike be inevitable.[15] He then introduced several bills, including ones addressing public employees' healthcare needs, raising their wages, and giving teachers tax deductions on purchased classroom supplies.[25] Due to his active and vocal support of the strikes, Ojeda was said by some to have attained something of a "folk hero" status with teachers and other unionists. He was regularly met by chants of his last name and other expressions of appreciation and commendation while traveling the state to speak out in support of the strikers (and later his Congressional bid).[15][14][25]

Ojeda traveled to California to support the 2019 Los Angeles teachers' strike, proclaiming "Don’t make us go West Virginia on you" in an op-ed published in The Intercept.[26]

2018 U.S. House campaign in West Virginia

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Ojeda ran for West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, a seat which was vacated by Republican Evan Jenkins, who filed instead to run in the primary for the U.S. Senate.[27][28] His campaign was staffed in part by local residents who were working on the campaign without pay, and held private jobs while working on the campaign.[2] According to Ojeda, his campaign only accepted donations from individual donors and labor unions. He won the Democratic primary on May 9, 2018, defeating Shirley Love, Janice Hagerman, and Paul Davis.[29]

Salon noted that Ojeda's race was a potential bellwether, noting that "Ojeda is no stranger to converting Trump supporters: He won his state Senate election by 18 points, in a district Trump carried by 59."[30]

During the campaign, Ojeda agreed to an interview for Michael Moore's documentary, Fahrenheit 11/9. Ojeda's off the cuff unpolished pronouncements were used by opponent Carol Miller's campaign to bring under question Ojeda's patriotism while labeling him as unhinged.[14] Ojeda took issue with Miller's criticism in a campaign ad.[31]

As the polling began to indicate a tight race, President Trump traveled to West Virginia in October to campaign for Miller. On the stump, Trump mocked Ojeda while making a point of pronouncing Ojeda's last name while affecting an Hispanic accent.[32][14]

On November 6, 2018, Ojeda was defeated in the general election by 12 points, winning 44% of the vote to Miller's 56%. For Democrats, this was a 32-point improvement in performance from the previous election, where the Democrat won only 24% to the Republican's 68%.[33] According to FiveThirtyEight, Ojeda outperformed his district's partisan lean by 25%, the strongest showing for a non-incumbent.[34]

2020 presidential campaign

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Ojeda for President
Campaign2020 United States presidential election (Democratic Party primaries)
CandidateRichard Ojeda
State Senator from West Virginia (2017–2019)
AffiliationDemocratic Party
StatusInactive
AnnouncedNovember 11, 2018
SuspendedJanuary 25, 2019
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
ReceiptsUS$119,477.74[35] (3/31/2019)
SloganWe Are Worthy[36]
Website
www.voteojeda.com

In November 2018, Ojeda filed with the Federal Election Commission, officially becoming a candidate for President of the United States.[37][38][39][40] His campaign was announced on November 11, at a rally in Louisville, Kentucky, which consisted mostly of union members.[41] His campaign focuses included ending government corruption and returning the Democratic Party to a party that benefited the working class.[7] As no incumbent state legislator has ever mounted a serious bid for the presidency, Ojeda was considered a "longshot" and "underdog" candidate.[42][43]

He resigned from the West Virginia Senate on January 9, 2019, to focus on his presidential bid.[44][45] A few days after, Ojeda asked the Senate Minority Leader (a Democrat) if he could rescind his resignation, with the Senate Minority Leader telling Ojeda to talk to the Senate President (a Republican) because that is to whom he sent the resignation letter.[46] The Republican governor, Jim Justice, seated lobbyist Paul Hardesty in Ojeda's vacant seat.[46] Ojeda dropped out of the race on January 26, 2019.[47][48]

Endorsements

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2020 U.S. Senate campaign in West Virginia

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On January 13, 2020, Ojeda announced his campaign for the United States Senate, hoping to challenge incumbent Shelley Moore Capito.[49][50] On June 9, 2020, Ojeda was defeated in the primary election by five points, winning 33% of the vote, as opposed to Paula Jean Swearengin's 38%.[51] Following the primary, Ojeda endorsed Swearengin for the general election.[52]

2026 U.S. House Campaign in North Carolina

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Ojeda moved back to North Carolina in 2020, where he had previously lived for over fifteen years during his military career.[10][53] Ojeda announced a campaign for North Carolina's 9th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 2025.[54][55] By October 2025, Ojeda raised $1.2 million from 20,000 donors with an average contribution of $16 each, in his bid to oust National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson.[56]

On March 3, 2026, he won the Democratic nomination for the district.[57] His win was praised by the North Carolina AFL-CIO, which cited his work as a "very strong advocate for unions" in a race roundup article.[58] After his victory, he was a keynote speaker at a Fayetteville No Kings rally.[59]

Political positions

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Ideological orientation

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Ojeda has been described by some as a populist of the "left-wing variety".[7][60][61] He identifies as a traditional working-class Democrat and laments what he perceives as a Democratic party that is increasingly drifting away from its working-class roots and becoming a party of the elite.[7] In the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, he says he voted for Independent Senator Bernie Sanders.[62] He has also been described as a moderate Democrat and he stated that he voted for President Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election (a decision he later regretted).[63][64] He describes himself as a "conservative on most cultural issues" who supports coal jobs and border security.[65]

Taxes

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Ojeda was one of the few West Virginia lawmakers who came out outspokenly in favor of raising taxes on corporations and the rich, calling for higher corporate taxes (particularly on coal and gas corporations that were the major economic players in WV) to offset spending cuts that had negatively affected public services and employees in the state.[66]

Labor rights

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Ojeda is devoutly pro-union and received $121,440 during his 2018 campaign from several unions, including the American Federation of Teachers and the Teamsters' Union.[7][66][67][68] In his 2026 North Carolina campaign, Ojeda received an endorsement from the NC AFL-CIO.[58] Ojeda opposes right-to-work laws.[66]

Veterans affairs

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Ojeda, a veteran himself, has advocated for improved services for those who have served in the military, arguing that the United States has a fundamental obligation to care for veterans following their service.[69] He supports expanding Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, particularly around mental health care.[69] His 2026 North Carolina congressional campaign collected 90,000 signatures for a petition that criticized the Trump administration cuts to VA services as part of the larger Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts.[56][70]

Gun control

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On gun control, Ojeda has early in his political career been described as pro-gun.[71] In 2018, he stated that increased services for the mentally ill would help ease gun violence. At the time, he noted that he supported the Second Amendment and does not believe additional restrictions are needed.[72][73]

However, on August 8, 2019, following the Dayton and El Paso shootings, Ojeda shifted his position and called pro-gun rights politicians "spineless pieces of shit" who "didn't have the balls" to take on the NRA.[74] He also called for stricter gun restrictions, citing a series of recent mass shootings that had collectively accounted for a total of 74 deaths.[74]

Foreign policy

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Ojeda, on his Twitter account has posted several tweets opposed to Saudi Arabia and the intervention it leads in support of the Yemeni government against the Iranian-backed Houthis that had taken over much of Yemen's north including its capital, Sanaa, he stated that the US should end support for Saudi Arabia and end arms deals with the nation, he also condemned the country for the alleged involvement of the Saudi government in Jamal Khashoggi's death.[75]

Regarding Iran, Ojeda has stated he would not support a war with Iran.[76]

Abortion

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Ojeda self-identifies as pro choice. He supports abortion rights and that he would only nominate judges who likewise shared his support for access to abortion.[77][78] He said that he hates "the idea of telling a woman what to do with her body" and noted that he supported Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood in an interview with The Guardian in 2018.[79] He has also voiced opposition to the Helms Amendment that limits the United States in assistance to abortion through foreign aid, saying, "a woman raped by the Taliban or Boko Haram should not be forced by the callousness of our government to bear her rapist’s child".[77]

Healthcare

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During his 2026 North Carolina congressional campaign, Ojeda noted his support for expanding Medicaid and protecting the Affordable Care Act.[80] Ojeda in 2018 stated that Congress and the president should be barred from taking out extra insurance, and should instead have to rely on the standard healthcare which would be afforded every American citizen for the course of their terms of office, to incentivize them in promoting and maintaining quality comprehensive universal healthcare coverage.[81]

Environment

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Ojeda has called for sustainable energy.[61] Ojeda has noted that he sees a limited role of the anthracite coal (like the one mined in his home state) in steel-making for the foreseeable future but has acknowledged that coal is "not gonna come back", and expressed his desire to find a way for miners to transition into other well-paying jobs.[7] During his 2018 congressional campaign, Ojeda praised the Trump administration's plan to roll back environmental regulations and stated it would benefit the coal industry and bring back jobs to his district.[7]

Immigration

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In a 2016 interview with The New Yorker during the presidential election that year, Ojeda said he understood the frustrations of working-class communities that made them receptive to Donald Trump's messaging on restricting benefits for undocumented immigrants.[82] As Trump's administration began enacting immigration policy changes, Ojeda shifted leftward in response.[61] He has since spoken out against the Trump administration's policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the border.[83] In his 2026 congressional campaign, Ojeda has identified changing federal immigration policy as his top priority, and has been critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.[80][84] Ojeda supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers".[81][61]

Cannabis

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Ojeda has called for the legalization of marijuana and clemency for those incarcerated for possession.[85] During his tenure as state senator, Ojeda spearheaded the passage of a bill legalizing medical marijuana.[86] He advocates directing funds raised from taxes on cannabis sales to fund public works.[61]

Pharmaceutical companies

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Ojeda has taken stances against the pharmaceutical industry, focusing in particular on its role in sparking the opioid epidemic.[7] During his 2018 campaign, Ojeda noted that he would not take money from drug companies and would "throw their lobbyists out of my office."[87]

Campaign finance, political ethics, and transparency

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As described by Ojeda, his presidential campaign focused on "lobbying and corruption in Washington", and proposed measures to address political ethics.[7][12] Ojeda proposed requiring body-cams on lobbyists in order to increase government transparency and public oversight.[7][88] He is a supporter of WolfPAC, and has pledged not to take corporate donations for his campaign.[46][88]

Ojeda has proposed that federally elected officials and Cabinet officials must donate to charity any net worth exceeding one million dollars to prevent exploitation of political office for personal financial gain. He proposed that, upon retirement from public office, such officials must be subject to an annual earnings limit of $120,000 (in addition to a $130,000 pension), "subject to automatic yearly cost of living adjustments."[36][7] Ojeda also called for implementing "donor vouchers," allocated funds that would give individual voters small amounts of money to donate to the candidate of their choice, to enhance the financial sway of individual, poorer voters.[89]

Electoral history

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West Virginia Senate District 7 (Position B) election, 2016[90]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Ojeda 19,978 58.8%
Republican Jordan Ray Bridges 13,987 41.2%
Total votes 33,965 100.0%
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district Democratic primary, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Ojeda 29,837 52.0%
Democratic Shirley Love 14,251 24.9%
Democratic Paul Davis 9,063 15.8%
Democratic Janice "Byrd" Hagerman 4,176 7.3%
Total votes 57,327 100.0%
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2018[91]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Carol Miller 98,048 56.41
Democratic Richard Ojeda 75,776 43.59
Total votes 173,824 100.0%
United States Senate election in West Virginia Democratic primary, 2020[92]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paula Jean Swearengin 68,888 37.98%
Democratic Richard Ojeda 59,826 32.98%
Democratic Richie Robb 52,683 29.04%
Total votes 181,397 100.00%
North Carolina's 9th congressional district Democratic primary, 2026[93]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Ojeda 18,469 41.8%
Democratic Nigel Bristow 11,825 26.7%
Democratic Lent Carr 6,968 15.8%
Democratic Loren Bibler 6,960 15.7%
Total votes 44,222 99.2%

References

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  1. ↑ "FamilySearch". FamilySearch.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kruse, Michael (March 2, 2018). "'He's JFK With Tattoos and a Bench Press'". Politico.
  3. ↑ Larissa MacFarquhar (November 10, 2016). "Learning Trump Won, in West Virginia". The New Yorker. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  4. 1 2 MacFarquhar, Larissa (October 10, 2016). "In the Heart of Trump Country". The New Yorker. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  5. ↑ Schwartzmann, Gabe (March 15, 2018). "Analysis: The Mountain State's Labor Tradition". The Daily Yonder. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  6. ↑ The Young Turks (November 24, 2018), Richard Ojeda's Presidential Bid Gains Steam!, retrieved January 21, 2019
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Grim, Ryan (November 12, 2018). "Richard Ojeda, West Virginia Lawmaker Who Backed Teachers Strikes, Will Run for President". The Intercept. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  8. ↑ II, Richard N. Ojeda (January 8, 2019). "My grandfathers came to America from Mexico and from Italy for opportunity. When immigrants STOP wanting to come to this country, that is when we will have a real crisis. #TrumpAddress #BoycottTrump #weareworthy".
  9. ↑ "Ojeda's education".
  10. 1 2 3 Lopez, Robert (February 26, 2026). "Richard Ojeda Takes on MAGA in Deep Red North Carolina". Barn Raiser. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  11. ↑ "VoteVets PAC Endorses Richard Ojeda for US Senate". VoteVets. June 4, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Marks, Rusty. "Senator warns of possible teacher strike". WV News. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  13. ↑ Takitch, Nathan, 'W.Va. State Senator resigns from Logan County JROTC program', wsaz.com, May 29, 2017. Accessed January 17, 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Kruse, Michael (November 7, 2018). "'You're Going to Know My Name! I'm Richard Ojeda!'". Politico. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Kruse, Michael (March 2, 2018). "'He's JFK With Tattoos and a Bench Press'". Politico. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  16. ↑ Stelloh, Tim (May 9, 2016). "West Virginia State Senate Candidate, a Veteran, Brutally Beaten". NBC News. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  17. 1 2 Staff, WSAZ News (May 8, 2016). "UPDATE: Man sentenced for beating of state senator". www.wsaz.com. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  18. ↑ Hauser, Christine (May 9, 2016). "Attack on West Virginia State Senate Candidate Overshadows Vote". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  19. ↑ "West Virginia 7th District State Senate Results: Richard Ojeda Wins". The New York Times. August 1, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  20. ↑ Barren, Amanda (April 19, 2017). "UPDATE: Gov. Justice signs medical marijuana bill into law". WSAZ. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  21. ↑ Ball, Krystal (January 12, 2016). "This could be the future of the Democratic Party". Vice. HBO. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  22. ↑ Can A Trump Voter From West Virginia Win The 2020 Democratic Primary?. FiveThirtyEight. November 12, 2018.
  23. ↑ Murphy, Tim (May 8, 2018). "He Voted for Trump. Now He's Running for Congress as a Pro-Pot, Pro-Coal Democrat". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  24. ↑ McElhinny, Brad (January 15, 2019). "Ojeda submits official Senate resignation letter, citing frustration". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  25. 1 2 Campbell, Alexia Fernández (May 8, 2018). "Richard Ojeda's West Virginia primary win gives Democrats their best chance to turn coal country blue". Vox. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  26. ↑ Ojeda, Richard (January 16, 2019). "Richard Ojeda on the LA Teachers Strike: "Don't Make Us Go West Virginia on You"". The Intercept. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  27. ↑ Ferguson, F. Brian (May 11, 2017). "Ojeda, Phillips latest to declare runs for Congress". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  28. ↑ Grigoryan, Nune; Suetzl, Wolfgang (2019). "Hybridized political participation". In Atkinson, Joshua D.; Kenix, Linda (eds.). Alternative Media Meets Mainstream Politics: Activist Nation Rising. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 178, 191. ISBN 9781498584357.
  29. ↑ Fernández Campbell, Alexia (May 9, 2018). "Richard Ojeda's West Virginia primary win gives Democrats their best chance to turn coal country blue". Vox. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  30. ↑ Derysh, Igor (October 13, 2018). "Could Democrats flip a West Virginia district Trump won by 49 points?". Salon.com. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  31. ↑ Richard Ojeda, COUNTRY, retrieved January 21, 2019
  32. ↑ Bonn, Tess (November 9, 2018). "Ojeda hits back at Trump: I will gladly be your 'stone cold crazy wacko'". The Hill. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  33. ↑ "WV SOS - Elections - Election Results - Online Data Services". services.sos.wv.gov. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  34. ↑ Rakich, Nathaniel (November 20, 2018). "Everything Is Partisan And Correlated And Boring". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Form 3P for Ojeda for President".
  36. 1 2 "Mission". Richard Ojeda for President 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  37. ↑ "W.Va. Sen. Richard Ojeda officially announces run for president in 2020". WSAZ. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  38. ↑ "RICHARD OJEDA DROPS OUT OF PRESIDENTIAL RACE". The Intercept. January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  39. ↑ Hall, Steven. "Form 1 for Ojeda for President". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved November 11, 2018.Public domain This article incorporates public domain material from this U.S government document.
  40. ↑ WSAZ News Staff (November 11, 2018). "State Senator Richard Ojeda to run for President in 2020". wsaz.com. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  41. ↑ Raymond, Adam K. (November 20, 2018). "Richard Ojeda Isn't Like Other Democrats. Is That a Good Thing?". New York Intelligencer. Retrieved September 6, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  42. ↑ BREAKING: Richard Ojeda Running For President In 2020, November 12, 2018, retrieved September 6, 2019
  43. ↑ Malone, Clare (November 12, 2018). "Can A Trump Voter From West Virginia Win The 2020 Democratic Primary?". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  44. ↑ "Ojeda submits official Senate resignation letter, citing frustration". WV MetroNews. January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  45. ↑ Zuckerman, Jake (January 25, 2019). "After resigning from WV Senate, Ojeda ends presidential bid". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  46. 1 2 3 Banner, Dylan Vidovich Logan (January 17, 2019). "Justice picks lobbyist to fill Ojeda's term in Senate". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  47. ↑ Grim, Ryan (January 25, 2019). "Richard Ojeda Drops Out of Presidential Race". The Intercept. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  48. ↑ Merica, Dan (January 25, 2019). "Richard Ojeda ends short-lived 2020 campaign | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  49. ↑ Budryk, Zack (January 13, 2020). "Democrat Richard Ojeda announces Senate bid after dropping out of presidential race". The Hill. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  50. ↑ Pierson, Lacie (January 13, 2020). "Familiar names surge during first day of filing for 2020 election in West Virginia". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  51. ↑ "West Virginia State Primary Election Unofficial Results". Clarity Elections: Election Night Reporting. West Virginia Secretary of State. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  52. ↑ Thomas, Alex (July 10, 2020). "Swearengin receives Sanders endorsement". WV MetroNews. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  53. ↑ Solender, Andrew (October 15, 2025). "Scoop: Democrat Richard Ojeda raises $1.2M in bid to oust House GOP campaign chair". Axios. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  54. ↑ Simms, Austin (April 1, 2025). "Former West Virginia state senator Richard Ojeda announces congressional bid in North Carolina". Lootpress. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  55. ↑ Early, Steve; Gordon, Suzanne (November 14, 2025). "The Left-Leaning Military Veterans Eyeing Congress". Jacobin. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  56. 1 2 Early, Steve; Gordon, Suzanne (November 14, 2025). "The Left-Leaning Military Veterans Eyeing Congress". Jacobin. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  57. ↑ AP (March 3, 2026). "Richard Ojeda wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District". Caledonian Record. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  58. 1 2 "Labor 2026 Update on NC Primary Election Results | North Carolina State AFL-CIO". NC AFL-CIO. March 6, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  59. ↑ Hutson, Beth. "A No Kings rally is set for Fayetteville. What to know if you're going". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  60. ↑ Murphy, Tim (May 9, 2018). "West Virginia's Surging Democrat Richard Ojeda Slams Trump". Mother Jones.
  61. 1 2 3 4 5 Heins, Scott (March 7, 2018). "As West Virginia Strike Winds Down, Angry Teachers Look to Bolster Progressives in Elections". The Intercept. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  62. ↑ Garofoli, Joe (January 4, 2019). "With a West Virginia drawl, Democrat gives working class a voice in 2020". SFChronicle.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  63. ↑ Gerety, Rowan Moore (October 5, 2018). "Richard Ojeda's Politics of Regret". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Archived from the original on October 5, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  64. ↑ Pathé, Simone (January 13, 2020). "West Virginia's Richard Ojeda is back, this time running for Senate". Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  65. ↑ Hunt, Albert R. (September 17, 2018). "How to be a Democrat in blue-collar Trump country". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  66. 1 2 3 Campbell, Alexia Fernández (May 8, 2018). "Richard Ojeda's West Virginia primary win gives Democrats their best chance to turn coal country blue". Vox. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  67. ↑ @VoteOjeda2020 (December 27, 2018). "What does real economic growth look like? It looks like 30 million new union jobs where we not only unionize green jobs to implement the GND but we also professionalize and unionize community workers including healthcare, child care, prevention and more" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  68. ↑ "Richard Ojeda II's Campaign Finances - The Voter's Self Defence System". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  69. 1 2 Serrano, Patricia (February 27, 2026). "Richard Ojeda II is running to represent District 9 in the United States House of Representatives". Enlace Latino NC. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  70. ↑ Lopez, Robert (February 26, 2026). "Richard Ojeda Takes on MAGA in Deep Red North Carolina". Barn Raiser. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  71. ↑ Fernandez Campbell, Alexia (November 12, 2018). "Democrat Richard Ojeda, a champion of West Virginia's teachers, says he is running for president". Vox. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  72. ↑ Delancey, Sean (November 4, 2018). "Miller and Ojeda: Where they stand on gun control". WCHS. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  73. ↑ "Out favorite pro-gun Democrats". The Pro-gun Democrat. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  74. 1 2 "Retired Army Major Makes Passionate Plea for Gun Reform". Now This. August 8, 2019.
  75. ↑ "Ojeda on Saudia Arabia". Twitter. December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  76. ↑ "Ojeda on Iran". Twitter. May 14, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  77. 1 2 Grim, Ryan (November 21, 2018). "Richard Ojeda Comes Out Swinging on Abortion Rights". The Intercept. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  78. ↑ Combs, Matt (March 28, 2018). "Ojeda discusses his platform in Hinton". Beckley Register-Herald. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  79. ↑ Lartey, Jamiles (February 27, 2018). "Could this 'military guy' Democrat find a magic formula to win back blue-collar voters?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  80. 1 2 Battaglia, Danielle (February 25, 2026). "Four NC Democrats want to take longtime Rep. Richard Hudson's seat in Congress". The News & Observer. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  81. 1 2 The Young Turks (November 24, 2018), Richard Ojeda's Presidential Bid Gains Steam!, retrieved January 21, 2019
  82. ↑ MacFarquhar, Larissa (October 3, 2016). "In the heart of Trump country". The New Yorker. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  83. ↑ Bonn, Tess (June 19, 2018). "West Virginia Dem who backed Trump sickened by family separations". The Hill. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  84. ↑ Serrano, Patricia (February 27, 2026). "Richard Ojeda II is running to represent District 9 in the United States House of Representatives". Enlace Latino NC. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  85. ↑ @VoteOjeda2020 (December 27, 2018). "What does real criminal justice reform and attacking the opioid epidemic look like? It starts with no longer arresting people for simple possession and instead referring them to treatment. It looks like legalizing cannabis and letting people in our jails on those charges...out" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  86. ↑ Kruse, Michael (March 2, 2018). "He's JFK With Tattoos and a Bench Press". Politico. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  87. ↑ Facher, Lev (October 19, 2018). "Eight midterm races putting pharma — and its influence — front and center". STAT. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  88. 1 2 "Richard Ojeda: Let's make lobbyists wear body cameras". Kentucky State AFL-CIO. December 22, 2018. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  89. ↑ @VoteOjeda2020 (December 27, 2018). "Each voter gets a donor voucher for a small amount that they can give to their candidate of their choice.https://twitter.com/camillekimball/status/1078430882933788672 …" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  90. ↑ "Statewide Results: General Election - November 8, 2016". West Virginia Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  91. ↑ "Unofficial Results". November 6, 2018 General Election. West Virginia Secretary of State. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  92. ↑ "West Virginia State Primary Election Unofficial Results". Clarity Elections: Election Night Reporting. West Virginia Secretary of State. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  93. ↑ "North Carolina House District 9 Primary Results 2026". NBC News. March 8, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
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