Category: Federal Legislator — U.S. Representative
Role: U.S. Representative, North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District (2013–present); National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chair (2023–present)
Priority: P1

Who Is Richard Hudson?

Richard Lane Hudson Jr. (born November 4, 1971, Franklin, Virginia) is a Republican U.S. Representative serving North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District (formerly the 8th District until redistricting) since 2013. He serves as Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) — the national committee charged with electing Republicans to the House.

Hudson holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Before running for Congress, he served as district director for then-Representative Robin Hayes and as a political consultant. He was first elected to Congress in 2012.

Hudson served as Secretary of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2023, then was elected NRCC Chair for the 118th Congress (2023–present). As NRCC Chair, Hudson controls candidate recruitment, fundraising, and campaign strategy for the House Republican majority. He controls hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign support, making him one of the most powerful figures in determining the composition of future Congresses.

He is married to Renee Howell and has one child.

Documented Actions: 2020 Election

January 6, 2021: Voted to Reject Certified Electoral College Results

Hudson voted YEA on both House objections on January 6 and early January 7, 2021 — voting to reject Arizona’s and Pennsylvania’s certified electoral results. Both objections were rejected by the House.

Source: GovTrack.us, House votes 117-2021/h10 and h11; Clerk.house.gov; Wikipedia, “Richard Hudson (American politician).”

May 19, 2021: Voted Against January 6 Commission

Hudson voted with all seven other House Republican leaders against establishing a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Thirty-five Republicans and all 217 present Democrats voted to establish the commission.

Source: Wikipedia, “Richard Hudson (American politician)”; GovTrack.us.

Pattern Analysis

Hudson’s January 6 vote and his opposition to the commission form a consistent pattern: using institutional power to reject the democratic outcome, then blocking accountability for the violence that accompanied that effort. As NRCC Chair, he now controls which Republican candidates receive national party support and resources — a position from which election-denial posture can be extended to future congressional candidates.

Severity Assessment

Immediate harm: Moderate — voted to reject certified results and opposed J6 commission
Democratic erosion: High — NRCC Chair controls candidate recruitment and campaign funding for future House races
Current threat level: High — shapes which Republicans run for and win House seats

Accountability Status

Current status: Serving as U.S. Representative (NC-9) and NRCC Chair
Legal exposure: No known criminal charges or investigations
Election status: Up for reelection 2026

Sources

1. Wikipedia, “Richard Hudson (American politician)”; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hudson_(U.S._politician)
2. GovTrack.us, House votes 117-2021/h10 and h11
3. Clerk.house.gov, Roll Call Vote 117-2021/h10; https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202110
4. Raleigh News & Observer, “How did NC’s Congress delegation vote on election challenges”

Last Updated: May 22, 2026
Profile Status: Active — currently serving as NRCC Chair