Richard Hudson

Richard Hudson
Born	4 11, 1971
Birthplace	Franklin, Virginia, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	Chairman, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Known for	U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 9th congressional district
Education	University of North Carolina at Charlotte (B.A.)
Website	[[hudson.house.gov hudson.house.gov] Official site]

Richard Lane Hudson Jr. (born November 4, 1971) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 9th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Hudson has held the seat since 2013 and has become a prominent figure in North Carolina's congressional delegation. He serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, a role through which he has led legislative efforts on broadband infrastructure, telecommunications policy, and public safety communications networks. Hudson's district encompasses a significant portion of south-central North Carolina, including communities in the Fayetteville and Southern Pines areas, as well as portions of the Charlotte metropolitan region. Throughout his congressional career, he has focused on issues including military affairs—particularly those affecting Fort Bragg and military families in his district—telecommunications legislation, and healthcare policy for seniors.

Early Life

Richard Lane Hudson Jr. was born on November 4, 1971, in Franklin, Virginia. He grew up in various locations across the southern United States, as his family moved during his childhood. Hudson eventually settled in North Carolina, a state with which he became closely identified both personally and politically. His upbringing in the South shaped many of his political views and his later focus on issues affecting military communities and rural areas of North Carolina.

Details of Hudson's early family life and childhood experiences prior to his college years are not extensively documented in available public sources. What is known is that he developed an early interest in politics and government, which would lead him to pursue a career in public service and political consulting before seeking elected office himself.

Education

Hudson attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His time at UNC Charlotte provided him with a foundation in political science and public affairs that would serve as a springboard for his subsequent career in congressional staff work and political consulting. The university, located in the largest city in North Carolina, exposed Hudson to the dynamics of a growing metropolitan area in the New South, an experience that influenced his later political career representing parts of the Charlotte region and surrounding communities.

Career

Congressional Staff and Political Consulting

Before running for public office, Hudson built a career working within the political system as a congressional aide and political consultant. He served on the staff of several members of Congress, gaining experience in the legislative process, constituent services, and the mechanics of federal governance. This background gave him an insider's understanding of how Congress operates, knowledge that would prove valuable when he later sought a seat of his own.

Hudson worked as a political consultant and communications strategist, advising Republican candidates and officeholders. His years in this capacity allowed him to build a network of contacts within the Republican Party in North Carolina and nationally, positioning him for a future run for elected office.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress

Hudson first won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, representing North Carolina's 8th congressional district at the time. He defeated incumbent Democratic Congressman Larry Kissell in the general election, capitalizing on redistricting changes that had made the district more favorable to Republican candidates. His victory was part of a broader trend of Republican gains in North Carolina's congressional delegation.

Following redistricting ahead of subsequent election cycles, Hudson came to represent North Carolina's 9th congressional district, which encompasses communities in the south-central part of the state. The district includes portions of the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the Sandhills region around Southern Pines and Pinehurst, and parts of the greater Charlotte area. The presence of Fort Bragg (one of the largest military installations in the United States) within or adjacent to the district has been a defining feature of Hudson's constituency and a major focus of his legislative work.

Hudson has won reelection multiple times since his initial victory. As of 2026, he faces renewed electoral competition, with four Democratic candidates seeking to challenge him for the seat in the upcoming election cycle.

Committee Assignments and Leadership

Hudson has served on several congressional committees during his tenure. His most prominent role as of the 119th Congress is as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, which falls under the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In this capacity, Hudson has overseen hearings and legislative markups on a range of telecommunications and technology issues.

In November 2025, Hudson chaired a markup session of 28 bills aimed at streamlining broadband permitting processes. In his opening statement at the markup, Hudson emphasized the importance of reducing regulatory barriers to broadband deployment, particularly in underserved and rural communities.

In early 2026, Hudson held a hearing on the reauthorization of FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network established to provide first responders with a dedicated communications platform. The hearing examined the future of FirstNet and the need for continued investment in public safety communications infrastructure.

Legislative Priorities

Hudson's legislative record reflects several consistent priorities: military and veterans' affairs, telecommunications policy, healthcare, and fiscal conservatism.

Military and Defense

Given the significance of Fort Bragg to his district, Hudson has been a consistent advocate for military families and defense spending. In September 2025, following the House passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Hudson announced that he had secured several provisions benefiting Fort Bragg and North Carolina's military families. His statement highlighted specific wins for the installation and the service members stationed there, reflecting his longstanding commitment to ensuring that the district's military community receives adequate support and resources from the federal government.

Healthcare

Hudson has been involved in healthcare legislation, particularly measures affecting senior citizens and access to medical services. In September 2025, he joined a bipartisan group of colleagues—including Representatives Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Scott Peters (CA-50), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01)—in introducing the RESULTS Act. The legislation was designed to protect seniors' access to laboratory testing, addressing concerns that changes to reimbursement policies could limit the availability of diagnostic services for Medicare beneficiaries.

Telecommunications and Broadband

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Hudson has made broadband expansion and telecommunications reform central elements of his legislative agenda. His work on streamlining broadband permitting reflects an effort to accelerate the deployment of high-speed internet service, particularly in rural areas of North Carolina and across the country. The November 2025 markup of 28 broadband-related bills represented one of the most significant legislative actions on permitting reform in the subcommittee's recent history.

His hearing on FirstNet reauthorization in early 2026 further underscored his focus on communications infrastructure, particularly as it relates to public safety and emergency response capabilities.

Fiscal and Budget Policy

Hudson has been a vocal critic of government shutdowns and fiscal impasses. In November 2025, during what his office described as "Day 31 of the Democrat Shutdown," Hudson called on Senate Democrats to end the standoff, characterizing their actions as using "Americans' pain" as political leverage. His statement reflected the broader Republican position during the budget dispute, framing the shutdown as a consequence of Democratic obstruction in the Senate.

Constituent Services and Community Engagement

Hudson maintains offices in both Southern Pines and Fayetteville, North Carolina, which serve as points of contact for constituents seeking assistance with federal agencies and programs. His office engages in a range of community outreach activities, including the annual Congressional Art Competition, a nationwide program in which high school students from each congressional district submit artwork for display in the U.S. Capitol.

In February 2026, Hudson announced the 2026 Congressional Art Competition, with his Southern Pines and Fayetteville offices accepting submissions from students across the 9th district. The program provides an opportunity for young artists in the district to have their work recognized at the national level.

2026 Election Cycle

As of early 2026, Hudson is expected to seek reelection to his seat representing North Carolina's 9th congressional district. According to reporting by the Raleigh News & Observer, four Democratic candidates have announced their intention to challenge Hudson, making the 2026 race one of the more competitive contests in the district's recent history. The primary election will determine which Democratic candidate advances to face Hudson in the general election.

Hudson's longevity in the seat—having served since 2013—and his committee chairmanship position him as a formidable incumbent. However, the emergence of multiple Democratic challengers suggests that opposition groups view the district as potentially competitive under evolving political conditions in North Carolina.

Personal Life

Hudson resides in the Concord area of North Carolina. He has maintained close ties to the communities within his congressional district, particularly the military communities near Fort Bragg. Details about his family life that are publicly documented are limited; Hudson has generally maintained a focus on his public responsibilities in his communications and media appearances.

Recognition

Hudson's role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology represents one of his most significant positions of institutional authority in Congress. Committee and subcommittee chairmanships in the U.S. House are awarded based on seniority, party affiliation, and the confidence of party leadership, and Hudson's elevation to this role reflects his standing within the Republican conference.

His work on military affairs, particularly his efforts to secure provisions in the NDAA benefiting Fort Bragg and North Carolina military families, has been a recurring feature of his legislative record and a source of recognition within the defense and veterans' communities in his district.

His bipartisan work on healthcare legislation, such as the RESULTS Act introduced alongside both Republican and Democratic colleagues, has also drawn attention as an example of cross-party cooperation on issues affecting senior citizens.