Retired Army Major Richard Ojeda Ends Presidential Campaign; Know His Wiki-Bio, Net Worth, Career, Earnings, Married, Spouse, and Children
Life is a mystery and no one can predict how it will go. It has a tendency of not going as planned and it becomes heartbreaking for many. But one can only weather the storm and carry on in the direction it takes.
Richard Ojeda is an ex-military and he is also among the many facing life’s uncertainties. But being a soldier he is moving ahead and coping with the circumstances, unlike many others. Let us learn about those circumstances along with his wiki bio, net worth, and relationship.
Why Did Richard Ojeda End His Campaign?
Former West Virginia state Senator Richard Ojeda recently ended his 2020 presidential bid. Ojeda launched his campaign shortly after losing his 2018 US House race.
He first announced he was running for President in November 2018. He was leaning on the fact that he markedly over-performed Hillary Clinton in the state in 2016.
But later he made the news of him stepping down and suspending his campaign public in a Facebook post. He dropped out of the race on January 25, 2019, citing his inability to get face time with the networks.
He was also stating that one must have access to immense wealth and power to run for office. Ojeda broadcasted his step down from the race on an hour-long Facebook live feed.
Ojeda made the announcement to close his campaign just 10 days after he left his state Senate seat for his presidential campaign. Republican West Virginia Governor Jim Justice days later appointed Paul Hardesty to fill the seat.
A few days after, Ojeda asked the Senate Minority Leader if he could rescind his resignation. The Senate Minority Leader told Ojeda to talk to the Senate President because he sent the resignation letter to him.
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Ojeda is a former Army paratrooper who ran as a Democrat in 2018 as a populist and is a Trump critic. But getting through a Democratic primary would have been difficult for him since he gave his to Trump in 2016.
Richard Ojeda Net Worth
Richard Ojeda’s net worth is somewhere around $1 million. But the exact value of his fortune along with his assets like, house, cars and real estate are still under review.
Richard had a salary of around $20,000 dollars while in the Senate and during his time on the military, his income was around $7,869 per month. He served 24 years in the United States Army, starting as a soldier before going through officer training and rising to the rank of major.
In the army, he earned two Bronze Stars. During his service, he spent time in Korea, Honduras, Jordan, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where he was attached to the 20th Engineer Brigade.
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Ojeda entered into politics in 2014, running for Congress in West Virginia’s 3rd District where he garnered 34% of the vote in the Democratic primary, losing to incumbent Nick Rahall whom Ojeda challenged.
Later, Ojeda went on to win both the Democratic Primary for the 7th District of the West Virginia Senate, defeating incumbent Art Kirkendoll.
In the general election held on November 8, 2016, he was able to defeat Republican Jordan Bridges by almost 18 points.
Richard Ojeda Relationship and Wiki-Bio
Richard Ojeda was born on September 25, 1970, in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. His mother is Florena and his father is Richard N. Ojeda. His family was politically Democratic and he also registered as a Democrat.
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Ojeda’s paternal grandfather was an undocumented immigrant from the Mexican state of Jalisco who came to West Virginia during the coal boom and later gained citizenship. Along with his Mexican ethnicity, he also has Italian ethnicity.
Ojeda graduated from Logan High School in 1988 and later earned a Bachelors in General Education degree from the West Virginia State University. Furthering his academics, Ojeda earned a Masters Degree in Business and Organizational Security from Webster University.
In terms of his relationship, he is in a committed marriage with Kelly Ojeda. He exchanged vows with his wife on May 10th, 1997.
The lovers share two children, Richard III, and Kayla Lavon. The duo seems to be happy and is living a content life without any rumors or news of any breakup or separation. The pair shares good romantic chemistry and is supportive of each other.