Richard Ojeda is heading to Congress without his biggest supporter ... but the North Carolina congressman-elect plans to keep his late father close when he's sworn into office.

Jacob caught up with Ojeda at the Capitol Monday ... and he revealed he's planning to wear a small bag of his father's ashes around his neck during his swearing-in ceremony.

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Ojeda's father died shortly after his son's election victory ... but not before the incoming lawmaker got to share the good news with him, capturing the emotional moment on video as he told his dad, "Pop, we won."

Ojeda called it the greatest experience of his life, and even showed us the watch he was wearing, revealing it was the last one his father -- who'd battled Parkinson's for years -- wore and saying he knows his dad died a proud man.

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He said he's been thinking about his father constantly while getting acquainted with Capitol Hill ... and vowed to honor him by fighting for working-class Americans and people who don't have a voice.

And when asked what he'd say to his dad now, Ojeda had a simple answer ... he'll follow through on everything he promised.