Rep. Richard Hudson talks about kitchen-table costs but consistently sides with policies that raise them. He voted to keep Trump's tariffs on Canada even as economists warned they would spike grocery and consumer prices across North Carolina, backed a tax law that CBO projects would cut income for the poorest Americans by $1,200 a year while handing the richest 10 percent a $13,600 annual windfall, and supported a reconciliation package that could strip food assistance from 1.4 million North Carolinians — 66% of whom are in a household with children. Meanwhile, the tariffs he defended were projected to cost North Carolina farmers $695 million, threaten 8,000 agriculture and food-processing jobs, and function as a $1,600-per-household hidden tax on consumers in 2026. Hudson frames his votes as pro-worker and pro-family; the data says otherwise.
Hudson Voted Against a Bipartisan Resolution to End Trump's Tariffs on Canada. According to GovTrack, Hudson voted "Nay" on H.J.Res. 72, a resolution to terminate the national emergency declaration and tariffs on Canada, which passed 219-211 on February 11, 2026. Only six Republicans broke with their party to support the resolution; Hudson was not among them. [GovTrack, 2/11/26]
The Tax Foundation Estimated Trump's Tariffs Amount to a $1,600 Tax on the Average American Consumer in 2026. According to WUNC, the Tax Foundation estimated that Trump's tariffs represent "a $1,200 tax on average U.S. consumers in 2025, rising to $1,600 in 2026." [WUNC, 11/25/25]
North Carolina Consumers Faced Tariff-Driven Inflation as Prices Rose Across the Board. According to WRAL, N.C. State University Professor Emeritus Mike Walden warned, "'Businesses have breaking points. I think we're beginning to see that breaking point'" as companies passed tariff costs to consumers. The June CPI showed consumer prices rose 2.7% year-over-year, the highest since February. [WRAL, Viewed 2/16/26]
Tariffs Were Projected to Cost North Carolina Farmers $695 Million and 8,000 Jobs. According to Carolina Journal, an NC State University report warned that retaliatory tariffs could cost North Carolina farmers $695 million, with pork producers alone facing a conservative estimate of $430 million in losses. The report projected 8,000 jobs at risk: 3,000 in agricultural production and 5,000 in food processing and related manufacturing. [Carolina Journal, Viewed 2/16/26]
North Carolina Small Farmers Said Tariffs Were Squeezing Their Already-Thin Profit Margins. According to WUNC, Red Scout Farm owner Mary Carroll Dodd said, "'When the price of everything it takes to grow vegetables goes up from soil to tools to fertilizer, packaging, transportation, then the vegetables on the holiday table goes up as well.'" She added, "'For a small, diversified farm like us, those costs add up quickly. Our profit margins are already very thin, so every increase means tough choices.'" [WUNC, 11/25/25]
Hudson Called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act 'The Most Pro-Worker, Pro-Family' Legislation 'In Decades.' According to a press release from Hudson's office, he stated, "'The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is the most pro-worker, pro-family, and pro-America legislation we've seen in decades. It means bigger paychecks for middle class families, stronger borders, a stronger military, and more freedom for every North Carolinian.'" [Hudson.house.gov, 7/4/25]
CBO Found the Law Would Cut Income for the Poorest Americans by $1,200 a Year While Increasing Income for the Richest by $13,600. According to NBC News, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the lowest 10% of earners would lose roughly $1,200 annually due to restrictions on government programs including Medicaid and food assistance, while the wealthiest 10% would see their income increase by $13,600 from tax cuts. [NBC News, Viewed 2/16/26]
The Law Made the Top Tax Rate of 37% Permanent and Let Business Owners Deduct Private Jets in Year One. According to NPR, the law made permanent the 37% top marginal tax rate — down from 39.6% — and restored 100% bonus depreciation allowing businesses to immediately deduct the full cost of assets including private jets. EY Private's Tony Nitti noted, "'Not everybody can go out and buy a private jet — but if you can, now that private jet is deductible in year one.'" [NPR, 11/5/25]
The Estate Tax Exemption Was Raised to $15 Million Per Person, Benefiting Only the Wealthiest Families. According to NPR, the law increased the lifetime estate and gift tax exemption to $15 million per individual and $30 million per married couple, up from $13.99 million and $27.98 million respectively. [NPR, 11/5/25]
Hudson Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill, Which Included a 20% Cut to SNAP — the Largest in the Program's History. According to the Harvard Kennedy School analysis cited by NCIOM, the plan to cut SNAP funding by 20% represented the largest cut to the program ever. Over the next decade, the program faces a $187 billion cut, with projections estimating that up to 22 million U.S. families could lose some or all of their SNAP benefits. [NCIOM, Viewed 2/16/26]
1.4 Million North Carolinians — 66% of Whom Have Children In Their Household — Could Lose Food Assistance. According to NCIOM, changes to SNAP could leave 1.4 million North Carolina residents without food assistance, 66% of which have children in their household. One in eight North Carolinians currently receives SNAP, including 46,000 veterans. [NCIOM, Viewed 2/16/26]
North Carolina Faced a $420 Million Annual Bill or Risked Ending Its SNAP Program Entirely. According to NCIOM, the law shifted SNAP funding burdens onto the states, requiring North Carolina to pay $420 million annually based on payment error rates. Governor Stein warned the state could be "'forced to end our SNAP program entirely.'" The state was left with three options: pay its share, decrease SNAP enrollment, or completely withdraw from the program. [NCIOM, Viewed 2/16/26]
Hudson Voted Against the Inflation Reduction Act, Which Capped Insulin Costs and Allowed Medicare to Negotiate Drug Prices. According to Fox 8, all eight North Carolina Republicans in the House, including Hudson, voted against the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which passed 220-207. The law caps prescription drug costs for people on Medicare at $2,000 per year and allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time. [Fox 8, 8/12/22]
A UNC Charlotte Economist Warned That Tariff-Driven Inflation Could Return to North Carolina in 2026. According to WCNC, a UNC Charlotte economist warned that inflation could return to North Carolina in 2026 without fiscal cuts, identifying tariffs as a "wild card" threat that could trigger a price spike for consumers and materially affect household purchasing power. [WCNC, Viewed 2/16/26]
Daimler Truck Announced Temporary Layoffs of 573 Workers Near Charlotte Due to Tariff-Related Economic Uncertainty. According to WRAL, Daimler Truck announced temporary layoffs of 573 workers near Charlotte as reduced truck orders stemmed from economic uncertainty and tariffs. [WRAL, Viewed 2/16/26]
A Food Importer Said Tariffing Food 'Makes Absolutely No Sense.' According to WUNC, Royal Food Import Corp. CEO Collin Tuthill said, "'Placing a tariff or a tax on any kind of food item is something that makes absolutely no sense to me,'" as customers purchased less food or traded down to cheaper items, resulting in less food at food banks and smaller portions in cafeterias and hospitals. [WUNC, 11/25/25]