Birth Name: Richard Neece Ojeda II
Place of Birth: Olmsted, Minnesota, United States
Date of Birth: September 25, 1970
Ethnicity:
*25% Mexican
*25% mix of English and German
*50% Italian
Richard Ojeda is an American politician and U.S. Army officer. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been a Member of the West Virginia Senate, since December 1, 2016.
He is a candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 2020.
Richard is the son of Florena (Pansera) and Richard N. Ojeda. He is married to Kelly, with whom he has two children.
Richard’s paternal grandfather was Senon H. “Sam” Ojeda (the son of Martin Ojeda and Christina Hernandez). Senon was a Mexican emigrant from Jalisco, who was undocumented.
Richard’s paternal grandmother was Ocie Lucina Neece (the daughter of Joseph Campbell “Joe” Neece and Rosina Ann/Anne/Rosana Rasnake/Rasnick). Ocie was born in Virginia, and had English and German ancestry. Joseph was the son of James Henry Neece and Sarah A. Taylor. Rosina was the daughter of Elijah Rasnake/Rasnick and Phoebe Lusintha Smith.
Richard’s maternal grandfather was Carmelo/Carmello Pansera, Sr. (the son of Santo Panzera and Flora Hayla). Carmello was born in West Virginia, to Italian parents.
Richard’s maternal grandmother was Angelina Mary Fortuna (the daughter of Antonio “Toney”/”Tony” Fortuna and Nickolena Guiseppa Josephine Moribito). Angelina’s parents were Italian. Antonio was the son of Carmelo Mill Fortina Fortuna and Angelina Collea. Nickolena was the daughter of Rocco Morabito and Rosa.
Richard is one of several people of Hispanic ancestry to mount or to have mounted a major campaign for President of the United States. The others are:
*Ben Fernandez (who sought the 1980, 1984, and 1988 Republican nominations)
*Bill Richardson (who sought the 2008 Democratic nomination; three of Bill’s grandparents were Hispanic)
*Ted Cruz (2016; Republican; won 11 contests; Cruz’s father is Cuban)
*Marco Rubio (2016; Republican; won 3 contests)
Richard is one of several people of significant Italian heritage to run or to have run plausible or semi-plausible campaigns for a major political party’s nomination for President of the United States. Of these candidates, four have won a major party’s caucus, primary, and/or nominating ballot. The four are:
*Al Smith (who was the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 1928, and was also a candidate for the 1920, 1924, and 1932 Democratic nominations for President; Smith’s paternal grandfather was Italian)
*Michael DiSalle (1960; Democratic; won 1 state, Ohio)
*Rick Santorum (2012; Republican; won 11 contests; Santorum also sought the 2016 Republican nomination; Santorum is of three quarters Italian descent)
*Ted Cruz (2016; Republican; won 11 contests; Cruz’s maternal great-grandfather was Italian)
Other people of significant Italian heritage who have mounted plausible or semi-plausible campaigns for a major party’s nomination for President of the United States are:
*John A. Volpe (who sought the 1968 Republican nomination)
*James Traficant (who sought the 1988 Democratic nomination; Traficant’s father was of Italian descent)
*Rudy Giuliani (who sought the 2008 Republican nomination)
*Tom Tancredo (who sought the 2008 Republican nomination)
*Chris Christie (who sought the 2016 Republican nomination; Christie’s mother was of Italian descent)
*George Pataki (who sought the 2016 Republican nomination; Pataki’s maternal grandfather was Italian)
Geraldine Ferraro, who was of Italian descent, was the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1984.
Sources: Genealogies of Richard’s paternal grandparents, Senon H. “Sam” Ojeda and Ocie Lucina Neece – https://www.findagrave.com
Marriage record of Richard’s paternal grandparents, Senon H. “Sam” Ojeda and Ocie Lucina Neece – https://www.familysearch.org