Army Major (Richard Ojeda)

Also known as: Richard Ojeda, Major Ojeda, Sen. Ojeda, The Major

Richard Ojeda's path to the Dabbleverse began in the coal fields of West Virginia, where he grew up before enlisting in the Army. Over 25 years of service, he rose to the rank of major, earning two Bronze Stars and accumulating deployment experience across multiple continents. His military career took him to South Korea, Honduras, Jordan, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq, giving him the combat veteran credentials that would later define his political persona. Ojeda entered West Virginia state politics in 2016, winning a seat in the state senate representing the 7th district. He quickly established himself as a populist firebrand, breaking with traditional Democratic Party positions on issues like gun rights while championing labor causes. His most high-profile moment came in 2018 when he vocally supported the West Virginia teachers' strike, a grassroots movement that inspired similar actions across the country. This support, combined with his advocacy for cannabis legalization, made him a progressive darling despite his conservative stances on other issues. The 2018 congressional race for West Virginia's 3rd district put Ojeda in the national spotlight. Running as a Democrat in Trump country, he campaigned on economic populism, veterans' issues, and working-class solidarity. Despite losing to Republican Carol Miller by about 12 points, Ojeda's performance in a heavily Republican district -- and his charismatic, no-nonsense style -- convinced him he had a national future. That conviction led to one of the more peculiar presidential campaigns in recent memory. In November 2018, j

Profile updated .

Army Major (Richard Ojeda) highlights

  • Military Service (1988-2013): Richard Ojeda serves 25 years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of major. He deploys to South Korea, Honduras, Jordan, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq, earning two Bronze Stars for his service. This military background becomes the foundation of his political identity.
  • West Virginia State Senate (2016-2018): Ojeda wins election to the West Virginia State Senate, representing the 7th district. He establishes himself as a populist firebrand, supporting the 2018 teachers' strike and advocating for cannabis legalization while maintaining conservative positions on gun rights.
  • 2018 Congressional Campaign: Ojeda runs for the U.S. House of Representatives in West Virginia's 3rd district, garnering national attention for his working-class populist message. Despite losing to Republican Carol Miller by approximately 12 points on November 6, 2018, his performance in Trump country convinces him he has a national political future.
  • 2020 Presidential Campaign (November 2018 - January 2019): Just days after losing his House race, Ojeda announces his candidacy for president in the 2020 Democratic primary. The campaign struggles to gain traction or raise funds, and Ojeda drops out less than three months after launching, one of the shortest-lived presidential campaigns in modern history.
  • 2020 Senate Primary: Ojeda pivots to challenging incumbent Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito in the 2020 election. He fails to secure the Democratic nomination in the primary, effectively ending his electoral political career.
  • Stuttering John Podcast Guest (2021-2022): After his political career stalls, Ojeda becomes a recurring guest on The Stuttering John Podcast, appearing on episodes in August 2021, November 2021 (twice), December 2021 (twice), and November 2022. These appearances establish him as a peripheral Dabbleverse figure -- the earnest political commentator in John's chaotic podcast ecosystem.

Shows featuring Army Major (Richard Ojeda)

Latest coverage mentioning Army Major (Richard Ojeda)

All Dabbleverse people · Current rankings · Latest news · Live dashboard