Three Battle for Redrawn Ninth District Congressional Seat
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson is set to face off against Democrat Nigel Bristow, a former 20-year New York City police detective, and Independent Shelane Etchison, a veteran who joined the military after the events of 9/11, for the newly drawn Ninth District congressional seat.
Hudson, 52, hailing from Southern Pines in Moore County, emerged victorious over political newcomer and U.S. Army veteran Troy L. Tarazon to secure the Republican nomination.
The six-term congressman now faces Bristow, 54, of Rockingham in Richmond County, who ran unopposed in the primary election. Etchison, 38, also of Southern Pines, obtained the necessary signatures as a third-party candidate to appear on the ballot without competing in a primary.
The redistricting process has significantly altered the landscape of the Ninth District, which now encompasses the eastern part of Guilford County, all of Moore, Randolph, Hoke, and Alamance counties, plus portions of Chatham and Cumberland counties. These changes followed a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of the state Supreme Court, which determined that the previous Republican-drawn districts were excessively partisan.
Hudson previously represented the Eighth District starting in 2013. Before his election, he was involved in legislative roles, serving as chief of staff for several legislators, including U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx.
Bristow retired from the NYPD in 2010 and moved to North Carolina to settle on land that was once owned by his great-grandfather. Following his retirement, he worked as a probation/parole officer for the N.C. Department of Adult Correction and has been the chief of probation/parole for Anson County for six years.
Etchison, whose parents are small business owners from central Florida, joined the military after the September 11 attacks and was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq, where she served as a military police platoon leader and executive officer. After returning from deployment, she moved to Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) and was chosen for a Special Operations pilot program that deployed women on combat missions in Afghanistan alongside Army Rangers and Navy SEALs, focusing on gathering intelligence on Taliban and Al Qaeda targets.
Her contributions to this groundbreaking effort are detailed in the New York Times bestseller, Ashley’s War, by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon.
After eleven years of military service, Etchison earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She has engaged in economic development projects abroad and worked domestically as a security consultant, alongside volunteering with organizations focused on youth leadership development and Afghan refugee resettlement.
Nigel Bristow
Age: 54
Education: Degree in criminal justice from John Jay College
Job: Retired NYPD officer; chief probation/parole officer with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction.
Political/Civic Experience: Chair of the Board of Directors for the Ashley Chapel Community Center and New Horizons, a domestic violence agency serving survivors in Richmond County.
Top Priorities: Bristow expresses concerns over the lack of affordable healthcare and adequate medical and housing services for veterans, as well as disappointment in lawmakers who fail to collaborate across party lines to serve the American populace effectively.
“Help me get to Congress so that I can continue to fight for all people and to make their lives better.”
Shelane Etchison
Age: 38
Education: MBA from Harvard Business School; MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Job: U.S. Army veteran.
Political/Civic Experience: Worked on economic development initiatives and served as a security consultant, while actively volunteering with nonprofits for youth leadership and Afghan refugee resettlement.
Top Priorities: Etchison believes her key responsibility as a Congresswoman would be to protect individual rights and liberties, allowing everyone to pursue a dignified life without unnecessary government interference. She supports legislation securing women’s reproductive rights, upholding Second Amendment rights, and safeguarding civil liberties for all individuals, regardless of their background.
Richard Hudson
Age: 52
Education: Degrees in history and political science from UNC Charlotte.
Job: Former chief of staff for various legislators, including U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx; communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party in the mid-1990s.
Political/Civic Experience: Hudson has served as North Carolina’s representative in Congress since 2013 and currently chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). His past leadership includes roles on the Board of Trustees for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and other community organizations.
Top Priorities: Hudson has voiced his support for policies aimed at maintaining America’s prosperity and safety, criticizing the current administration for its leadership. He advocates for veterans, parental rights, farmers, the Second Amendment, and small businesses.
