Mediaboss Marketing

The race for the Congressional District 9 seat is underway. U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson faces three challengers in the Republican primary, while a state senator is the only Democratrunning.

Hudson is serving his fifth term in the U.S. House. He currently represents North Carolina's 8th Congressional District,but is running for reelection in the 9th Congressional District after the districts were redrawn based on population data from the 2020 Census.

Hudson's primary issues include agriculture, coronavirus, defense and national security, economy and jobs, education, energy, environment, health care, immigration, preventing gun violence, the Second Amendment, Social Security, veterans and his voting record, according to his website.

Elections:FTCC, Observer and Greater Fayetteville Chamber to host City Council candidate forums

Hudson likes to call himself "Fort Bragg's congressman." He serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and as the Republican Conference Secretary, according to the website. He was named the 12th most conservative member of the House by National Journal, it said.

Hudsongrew up in Charlotte andgraduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the website said. He and his family live in Concord, it said.

Bucardo is a California native who was raised in North Carolina.

The primary issues for her campaign are education, anti-critical race theory, pro-life, pro-guns, the foster care system, immigration, clean water and clear air, and ensuring election integrity, according to Bucardo's campaign website.

Rios is a veteran who is running to represent Congressional District 9.

Rios served in the 82nd Airborne Division and rose to the rank of sergeantbefore the end of his service in 1977.

News:Environmental groups upset with DEQ draft permit; Chemours responds to Cumberland lawsuit

Rioswants to run to give his constituents the means of controlling how he should vote on the various bills and committee matters, according to his campaign website.

Andriani is running for Congressional District 9 for four main reasons "to protect our God-given liberties and maintain our status as a nation of law;" to support efforts that are pro-life, protect gun ownership, school choice, female sports, strong borders and energy independence; to stop government interference with the freedom to make medical decisions for ourselves and our families; and to end all "tyrannical COVID restrictions imposed on We the People," according to Andriani's campaign website.

Some of the primary issues of Andriani's campaign are what he calls medical tyranny, education, economic policy, social policy, defense policy, energy policy, immigration and border security, the website said.

North Carolina Sen. Ben Clark has served five terms representing North Carolina Senate District 21 and is the only Democrat running for the Congressional District 9 seat.

Clark's campaignslogan is "Familly First Agenda." He saidwhen families are strong, the nation is strong.

In an email, Clark said he will go to Congress with a six-point "Family First Agenda." The agenda includes establishing a $15 per-hour minimum wage; makingaffordable health care accessible to every American; providing a quality education for each child; providing support for small businesses; caring for the environment; and protecting democracy.

Clark has a background in education. After earning his Master's in Business Administrationat Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, he taught high school science in Marylandand North Carolina.

"As a retired Air Force Lt. Col. having served five terms in the North Carolina Senate presenting the citizens of Cumberland and Hoke in Senate District 21, I have worked successfully with my colleagues to secure historic levels of resources for the district and to address the pressing concerns of our community," he said.

Staff writerAkira Kyles can be reachedatakyles@gannett.com.

Read more:
Meet the candidates running for the Congressional District 9 seat - The Fayetteville Observer