Richard Ojeda
Richard Ojeda
Richard Ojeda is a 2016 Democratic candidate for District 7 of the West Virginia State Senate.
Ojeda was a 2014 Democratic candidate who sought election to the U.S.
House to represent the 3rd Congressional District of West Virginia.
He was defeated by incumbent Nick Rahall in the primary on May 13, 2014.
Ojeda was born on September 25, 1970, in Rochester, Minnesota.
He was raised in Logan County, West Virginia, and he graduated from Logan High School in 1988.
He enlisted in the U.S.
Army in 1989.
In 1997, he earned a bachelor's degree from West Virginia State College.
After 24 years of service, Major Ojeda retired from the U.S. Army in 2013. [undefined]
Assault by Jonathan Porter
Richard Odeja was brutally assaulted by Jonathan Porter at a barbecue in West Virginia, days before the primary where Odeja is running for Senate. Ojeda suffered eight bone fractures and three lacerations to his face, as well as exterior swelling to his head. [undefined]
Ojeda said witnesses told him that he was kicked and struck with brass knuckles, although Holden said he found no evidence of the weapon and Porter denied using them.
Afterward, when the assailant got in his truck, a neighbor who witnessed the beating jumped in between the vehicle and Ojeda.
“He feared Jonathan Porter was going to hit him,” Holden said. [undefined]
The attacker spun out in the gravel, and when a second neighbor tried to block his exit with an ATV, the driver rammed the quad several times, Holden said, adding that the man eventually ran over it — along with a second ATV whose driver also tried to block him.
Ojeda believes John's attack was premeditated and it was all about politics.
Citing what he described as the intense poverty, corruption and nepotism that plagues the region — and his campaign for transparency and good government — Ojeda said: “The moment you start asking questions, you become public enemy number one.”