By Andie Foley and Mark Wineka
mark.wineka@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., used healthy vote margins in Rowan, Cabarrus, Stanly and Moore counties Tuesday to win election to a fourth term in U.S. House District 8.

Hudson captured 55.54 percent of the vote in outpolling former Aberdeen Mayor Frank McNeill, a Democrat. Hudson ended Tuesday with 140,347 votes to McNeill’s 112,971.

The 8th District includes all of Cabarrus, Stanly, Moore, Hoke and Montgomery counties and parts of Rowan and Cumberland.

Hudson topped McNeill in five of those seven counties, losing Hoke and Cumberland.

“My wife, Renee, and I are incredibly grateful for the hard work and support of volunteers and our neighbors across the 8th District,” Hudson said in a statement released by his campaign staff. “It’s humbling to know folks overwhelmingly believe in our ongoing work to rebuild out military, give veterans the care they deserve, stand up for small businesses and support working families.”

In talking with his supporters in Concord after his victory was clear, Hudson said, “Tonight is a great victory because we ran a campaign based on my record and what I’ve done on your behalf.”

He said he had worked on things to get the economy going such as deregulation, cutting taxes while working with President Trump, making the VA system more accountable and helping veterans and rebuilding the military.

Hudson said the country is seeing higher wages and increased economic activity, “and we’re proud of that success.” The congressman also pointed to his efforts in addressing opioid abuse and human trafficking.

“We didn’t talk about our opponent,” he said, but rather spoke on his accomplishments.

Hudson won Rowan County with 76 percent of the vote, 22,232 to 7,044; Cabarrus, 41,125 to 31,945; Stanly 16,313 to 5,930; Montgomery, 5,458 to 3,580; and Moore, 24,739 to 15,247.

McNeill outdistanced Hudson in Cumberland by a margin of 41,178 votes to 25,364. McNeill also won Hoke with 8,047 votes to Hudson’s 5,116.

“We put up a hell of a fight,” McNeill said in a Facebook post after midnight. “The support we’ve seen from all corners of (the 8th District) has been so incredible.

“We ran a campaign to be proud of, by working across party lines and meeting as many voters as possible. Congratulations to Richard Hudson, and a thanks to him for keeping our race clean and on the issues.”

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.