The smile on his father’s face said everything. Standing beside his bedside, the newly elected politician leaned closer and shared the words he had been waiting to say: “We won.” His father responded with a warm smile as a woman celebrated in the background. The moment was brief, but it carried years of family history, sacrifice, and hope. The video was recorded on election night, November 3, 2026, after a closely watched congressional race in North Carolina. When the son shared the footage publicly three days later, however, the emotional significance of that conversation became clear.
The victory had been remarkable in its own right. Richard Ojeda defeated seven-term Republican incumbent Richard Hudson in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District, earning approximately 51.1% of the vote against Hudson’s 48.9%. The result ended a Republican hold on the district that had lasted since 1963 and made Ojeda the district’s newly elected Democratic representative. But away from the campaign celebrations, he had one person he especially wanted to tell. His father, Richard Ojeda Sr., had been living with Parkinson’s disease for years, and his health had made every family moment increasingly precious. In the recording, Ojeda tells him, “Your son made it to Congress,” before kissing his forehead and saying, “Love you, Pop. We did it.” Then, on November 6, he shared another announcement that gave those few seconds an entirely different meaning.Family photo album
Ojeda revealed that his father had died that morning, just three days after the election victory. In his public tribute, he reflected on the fact that his father had lived long enough to hear the news personally, although he would not be there when his son took the oath of office. Ojeda’s journey to Congress had included 24 years in the U.S. Army, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and service in several other countries. After retiring as a major, he taught Junior ROTC, entered West Virginia politics, and eventually returned to North Carolina. His family history also shaped his public life: both sides of his family had ties to coal mining, including a grandfather who immigrated from Mexico. Now, as he prepares for his first term, Ojeda has promised to carry his father’s memory with him. “These next two years are for you,” he wrote, ending his tribute with the words, “Rest easy, Daddy. I’ll take it from here.
The video has since become a lasting record of a father witnessing one of his son’s greatest achievements. For Ojeda, the congressional victory will always be connected to that private exchange beside his father’s bed. His father may not be present for the ceremonies in Washington, but he heard the news that mattered so much to his son. And as Ojeda begins this new chapter in public service, the promise he made after his father’s passing gives the election victory a deeply personal meaning.