Richard Hudson (American politician)

Hudson ran for Congress in North Carolina's 8th congressional district. He won the Republican primary runoff on July 17, 2012, with 64% of the vote against opponent Scott Keadle[6] and faced Democratic incumbent Larry Kissell in November. The district had been made significantly more Republican in redistricting, losing most of its share of Charlotte and picking up several heavily Republican areas northeast of the city.

Hudson spoke at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida on August 28, 2012.[7] He defeated Kissell with 54 percent of the vote to Kissell's 46 percent and took office in January 2013.

Hudson was opposed by Antonio Blue in the general election and won 64.9% to 35.1%.[9]

In 2016, Hudson was challenged by Tim D'Annunzio in the primary election. He won with 64.6% of the vote; D'Annunzio received 35.4%. In the general election, Hudson defeated Democrat Thomas Mills 58.8%–41.2%.

Hudson faced Democrat Pat Timmons-Goodson in the 8th District, which stretches from Cabarrus County to Cumberland.[11] Numbers showed the 8th District could have been NC's most competitive congressional race.[12] This contest was on the November 3, 2020 ballot for residents of District 8 in NC.

In December 2020, Hudson was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden prevailed[13] over incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of the election held by another state.[14][5][15]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion." Additionally, Pelosi reprimanded Hudson and the other House members who supported the lawsuit: "The 126 Republican Members that signed onto this lawsuit brought dishonor to the House. Instead of upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution, they chose to subvert the Constitution and undermine public trust in our sacred democratic institutions."[16][17] New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell, citing section three of the 14th Amendment, called for Pelosi to not seat Hudson and the other Republicans who signed the brief supporting the suit. Pascrell argued that "the text of the 14th Amendment expressly forbids Members of Congress from engaging in rebellion against the United States. Trying to overturn a democratic election and install a dictator seems like a pretty clear example of that."[18]

On January 6, 2021, Hudson was one of 147 Republican lawmakers who objected to the certification of electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and forced an emergency recess of Congress.[19]

At the beginning of the 116th Congress, Hudson was assigned to the following committees:[20] Committee on Energy and Commerce,[21] Subcommittee on Energy,[22] Subcommittee on Health[23] and Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.[24]

• Hudson proposed prohibiting EPA officials from using airplane travel for official travel.[25]
• Hudson sponsored a bill to improve airport security in reaction to the 2013 Los Angeles International Airport shooting.[26] The bill was reintroduced by Rep. John Katko and became law in the 114th Congress.