Missouri's 6th District Primary

Five Republicans, three Democrats, and two Libertarians will compete in Missouri's 6th District primary on Aug. 4, the first contest for this seat in more than two decades without a sitting congressman on the ballot. Republican incumbent Samuel B. Graves Jr. announced in March 2026 that he would not seek a 14th term, triggering the most open competition the district has seen since he first won the seat in 2000. All three party primaries run on the same day under Missouri's partisan primary system, with nominees advancing to the Nov. 3 general election.

Missouri uses a traditional partisan primary, meaning Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians each hold separate contests. Voters choose one party's ballot and cast their vote among that party's candidates only. The top vote-getter in each primary wins the nomination outright; there is no runoff.

The district covers the northwestern corner of the state. Every major ratings outlet classifies it as solidly Republican, and prediction markets back that judgment, putting the eventual Republican nominee's odds of winning the general election at 94.4%.

The Candidates

Republicans

Six candidates are running in the 2026 Republican primary for Missouri's 6th Congressional District. Graves, who chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee during his tenure, endorsed Chris Stigall on the day he announced his retirement.

Stigall is a nationally syndicated conservative talk radio host and a northwest Missouri native who graduated from Northwest Missouri State University. He entered the race the same day Graves stepped aside and carries both Graves's endorsement and the backing of Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin.

Nathan Willett serves on the Kansas City Council representing the 1st District and is a Platte County resident. He had been running for the Missouri Senate before pivoting to the congressional race after Graves's announcement. Willett has framed himself as an outsider candidate and publicly criticized Graves's endorsement of Stigall as an attempt to hand-pick a successor. He has earned endorsements from the Missouri Farm Bureau and the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police.

Gena Ross brings prior campaign experience to the field, having run for this House seat in 2020 and for U.S. Senate in 2022. She has been identified as the first Black female candidate to seek the MO-6 Republican nomination and has a background in academia and community leadership.

James Ingram is a former Army member with professional experience in banking and utilities.

Also on the Republican ballot: Cody Oshel and Nathanael Schultz.

Democratic Primary

Three candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination in the Missouri District 6 race.

Matt Levine is a transportation security officer at Kansas City International Airport.

Also running in the Democratic primary: Josh Smead and Scot Pondelick, both of Kansas City.

Libertarian Primary

Two candidates are competing for the Libertarian nomination: Andy Maidment and Randy Langkraehr. Maidment appeared on the general election ballot in this district in 2024.

The Money Behind the Race

Candidates in the Missouri 6th Congressional District election have raised a combined $3,358,274 through July 27. No outside spending (independent expenditures or communication costs from outside groups) has been reported for this race. The financial activity on record consists entirely of candidate fundraising.

The absence of outside spending is notable given the size of the Republican field and the open-seat dynamic created by Graves's retirement. With no incumbent to defend or attack, outside groups have not yet moved money into the contest.

Ratings vs. Odds

Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections all rate Missouri's 6th Congressional District as Solid Republican, the strongest possible rating in favor of one party. Cook and Sabato issued that rating as of July 16; Inside Elections assigned it as of June 30. The consensus rating, aggregated as of July 23, matches all three.

On Kalshi, the Republican nominee carries a 94.4% probability of winning the general election as of July 26, with Democrats at 5.6%. That market has traded 2,331 contracts. The ratings and the odds point in the same direction: the Aug. 4 Republican primary is the race that decides who represents northwestern Missouri in the next Congress.

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