Missouri’s 6th District Candidates: Front-Runners and Open Seat

Eight candidates filed to replace retiring Rep. Sam Graves on the ballot for Missouri’s 6th Congressional District in 2026: five Republicans, three Democrats, and one Libertarian. The primary is August 4, 2026, and in a district the Cook Political Report rates Solid Republican at R+13, the GOP contest is widely expected to decide who wins in November.¹

Who Filed for the 2026 Primary

The Republican ballot lists Chris Stigall, Nathan Willett, Jim Ingram, Cody J. Oshel, and Nathanael Schultz. The Democratic ballot lists Josh Smead, Scot Pondelick, and Matt Levine. Andy Maidment filed as a Libertarian.²³ State Rep. Mazzie Christensen of Bethany considered running but withdrew on March 31, 2026, citing her pregnancy.⁴

The Republican Front-Runners

Chris Stigall

Stigall is a nationally syndicated conservative talk radio host who left his Salem Radio Network morning show to run.⁵ Born in Ray County and raised in Clay County, he graduated from Oak Park High School and Northwest Missouri State University and says his family has lived in the 6th District for five generations. He lives in Holt with his wife and three children and also works with the Herzog Foundation, a nonprofit focused on Christian education and school choice.⁶

Stigall carries the endorsement of Sam Graves, who called him “best suited to represent North Missouri in Congress.”⁴ He has described his record as “full-throated support for Donald Trump” and backs the president’s use of tariffs as leverage in trade talks, acknowledging the effect on district farmers while standing by the broader approach.⁷

Nathan Willett

Willett has served on the Kansas City Council representing a Northland district since 2023. He is a math teacher by profession, with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, where he was student body president, and a master’s from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He originally launched a campaign for the Missouri State Senate and pivoted to the congressional race after Graves announced his retirement, filing on March 30, 2026.⁸

On the council, Willett has pushed to increase funding for the Kansas City Police Department and publicly advocated for reducing the number of all-gender bathrooms at Kansas City International Airport.⁸⁹³¹⁰

The Other Three Republicans

Jim Ingram is a businessman and Army veteran from the Kansas City area, emphasizing private-sector experience and urging voters to prioritize “experience, accessibility and reform” over name recognition.¹¹ Cody J. Oshel is a Trenton native who has built his campaign around constituent accessibility and showing up for rural voters.¹² Nathanael Schultz appears on the ballot but has received minimal public coverage.

What the GOP Primary Is Fighting About

The defining dispute in the Republican race is over who truly represents Trump’s brand of conservatism. It centers on political consultant Jeff Roe, a longtime Graves adviser whose firm is working with Stigall’s campaign. Roe drew Trump’s ire in 2024 after his firm worked for a pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC.⁴

Willett has labeled Roe an “anti-Trump” consultant and accused Graves and Roe of trying to “hand-pick” a successor and “rig” the election, saying he is “proud to not be endorsed by the congressman.”⁴⁹ His Platte County backers echoed that, saying voters should “let the people in the district decide our next congressman, not DC interests.”¹³ Stigall points to his on-air record and pledges to back the president’s agenda in Congress.⁶ Trump himself has not endorsed in the race, according to available reporting.

Democrats and the Libertarian

Three Democrats filed: Josh Smead, Scot Pondelick, and Matt Levine. Libertarian Andy Maidment also filed.²³ Given the district’s R+13 lean, the Democratic primary has drawn comparatively little coverage, and the general election is expected to favor whichever Republican advances.¹

How and When to Vote

The primary is August 4, 2026. Missouri runs an open primary, so voters choose a party ballot at the polling place without any prior registration by party.¹⁴ No-excuse early voting begins two weeks before the primary, and absentee voting opens earlier, with exact dates set by each county clerk.¹⁵

Why the Seat Is Open and What Changed About the District

Graves announced on March 27, 2026 that he would not seek a 14th term, ending a tenure that began in 2001. He had already filed for reelection and reversed course days before the March 31 filing deadline, prompting Missouri to reopen candidate filing for the district from April 7 to April 10.¹⁶⁴

The district covers 33 mostly rural counties across northern Missouri from St. Joseph to Hannibal.¹⁷ Under a redistricting plan the Missouri General Assembly passed in September 2025, it now also takes in portions of Kansas City north of the Missouri River, adding roughly 207,567 Kansas City residents. A Jackson County circuit judge upheld the new map in March 2026; the Missouri Supreme Court was still considering separate challenges as of mid-2026, and local election officials are running the primary under the new boundaries.¹⁸ If you live in a northern Kansas City precinct that used to vote in a different congressional district, check your ballot before August 4.

1
Cook Political Report. Missouri 6th District Race Rating
2
Missouri Secretary of State. Candidates on the Web
3
KCUR. Kansas City Congressional District Candidates 2026
4
Missouri Independent. Race to Replace Sam Graves Opens With Clash Over Trump Loyalty
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Talkers. Salem Media Talk Host Chris Stigall to Run for Congress
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The Kansas City Star. Chris Stigall Profile
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St. Louis Public Radio. Stigall Hoping to Follow Graves in North Missouri-Based 6th Congressional District
8
The Kansas City Star. Nathan Willett Files to Run for Congress
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St. Louis Public Radio. Nathan Willett, Rep. Graves Support in 6th District GOP Primary
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The Kansas City Star. Nathan Willett Congressional Campaign
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Cameron News. Ingram Stresses Business Background, Access in MO-6 Race
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KHQA. Republican Cody Oshel and 7 Others Are Seeking to Replace Incumbent Graves
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KSHB. Platte County Officials Endorse Potential Candidate for Congress
14
Missouri Secretary of State. Elections and Candidates
15
Christian County Clerk. Election Calendar
16
KCUR. Missouri Sam Graves Retirement 6th Congressional District
17
KCUR. Missouri’s 6th District Race to Replace Sam Graves Opens With a Clash Over Trump Loyalty
18
Missouri Independent. Judge Rules Gerrymandered Missouri Congressional Map Is Constitutional