Cyril Jefferson
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Cyril Jefferson (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina's 6th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.[source]
Jefferson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Cyril Jefferson was born in Utica, New York. He attended North Carolina A&T State University and High Point University for undergraduate study. His career experience includes working as a mayor, council member, educator, education policy fellow, youth development consultant, and motivational speaker. He has been affiliated with the United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees, the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, the NAACP, and the United States Junior Chamber.[1][2]
Elections
2026
See also: North Carolina's 6th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2019
See also: City elections in High Point, North Carolina (2019)
General election
Nonpartisan primary election
2026
Video for Ballotpedia
Video submitted to Ballotpedia
Released August 5, 2025
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Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Cyril Jefferson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jefferson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Cyril Jefferson is a husband, father, and award-winning social innovator whose life has been dedicated to impacting others, creating opportunities, and mobilizing resources for social change. As Founder & Principal at Change Often - Social Innovation Firm, Cyril leads the company’s Innovation BrainTrust in solving social and economic challenges through collaborative solutions and comprehensive capacity building services. Working in spaces where the bottom line prioritizes “lives saved over dollars made,” the Change Often team helps bring to life the ideas that impact our world for the good and has partnered to invest more than $22M in impact initiatives for small business support, poverty alleviation, and education. Though he has received numerous honors—including a National Distinguished Service Award and being named to a Hunt State Policy Fellowship—the greatest to date came when voters in the 2023 High Point City Elections made him the youngest person to ever be elected Mayor of High Point, North Carolina. Mayor Jefferson is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University. Living the words of Winston Churchill, he and his wife, Raven, teach their two sons that “To improve is to change. To perfect is to change often.”
- Cyril Jefferson is running for Congress to deliver real results—not rhetoric—for North Carolina’s Sixth District.
- His approach is simple: put people first, build strong partnerships, and focus on solutions that work.
- Cyril is a husband, a father, a man of faith, and is guided by a calling to serve.
Cyril is focused on building a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future by addressing the most pressing challenges our communities face. At the core of his agenda are six top policy priorities.
An elected official’s greatest responsibility is to serve. The foundation of effective public leadership is a deep, unwavering commitment to the people, grounded in integrity, accountability, and a relentless pursuit of real solutions over political theater.
Service-minded leadership begins with humility. It means listening more than speaking, showing up in every corner of the community, and recognizing that leadership is not about personal power, but about improving the lives of others. A true public servant understands they are entrusted with the hopes and challenges of their constituents, and that trust must never be taken for granted.
Integrity is non-negotiable. The public deserves leaders who are honest, transparent, and consistent—individuals who do the right thing, especially when it’s not the easy thing. Decision-making must be guided by facts, values, and what will create the greatest good, not what scores the most political points.
Pragmatism is critical. Ideological purity may win headlines, but real progress requires collaboration, compromise, and focus. Effective leaders are solution-seekers, willing to work across lines of differences to craft policies that work in the real world—not just in talking points.
Empathy and compassion are essential. Officials must lead with an understanding of people’s real struggles—whether it’s affording housing, accessing healthcare, keeping their families safe, or finding a path to opportunity. Policies disconnected from human needs fail. Leaders must stay grounded in the lived experiences of their communities.
Lastly, resilience and courage are vital. Governing in complex times requires the strength to make tough decisions, to face criticism with grace, and to keep showing up when the stakes are high and the solutions aren’t easy.
At the heart of public service is a simple idea: We are here to make things better. For everyone. If someone gets elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, they take on a big job. First and foremost, they help make the laws that shape our country. That means writing bills, talking about them in committees, and voting on what becomes law. They work with other Representatives and Senators to decide what’s best for the American people.
One of their most important jobs is handling money. All bills that involve taxes or government spending have to start in the House. So, Representatives help decide how our tax dollars are used—on things like schools, roads, health care, and the military.
They also have the responsibility to check the power of the President and other top leaders. If someone in the government breaks the law or abuses their power, the House can start the process to remove them.
Another job is oversight. This means watching over federal agencies to make sure they’re doing their jobs honestly and fairly. Representatives can call hearings, ask questions, and dig into problems if something doesn’t seem right.
But one of the most important things a U.S. Representative does is represent you. They’re elected to speak up for the people in their district. That means listening to concerns, answering questions, helping with problems related to federal programs, and being a voice for the community in Washington, D.C.
In short, your Representative works on laws, watches over the government, helps manage the country’s money, and makes sure your voice is heard. It’s a tough job—but it all comes down to serving the people who elected them. My favorite book is "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama. Even just the title is inspiring to me, because it suggests that hope is a choice—one you make boldly and intentionally. Obama's book lays out that while America has had its struggles and still faces challenges, the real power of democracy lies in choosing hope over cynicism. It’s about believing we can overcome our differences and work toward a brighter future together.
What I love is that the book offers a kind of roadmap for governing with optimism, pragmatism, and collaboration. It reminds me that the people I might disagree with aren’t my enemies; we’re all aiming for a better world, just with different ideas on how to get there. That perspective has shaped my own values in leadership—choosing hope, building bridges, and believing that we can find common ground. In short, it’s a book that’s given me a guiding light for how to lead and govern with a positive spirit.
One of the struggles I've faced is my own drive for everything I do to be big and perfect. Some might call it a touch of megalomania—though I’d say it’s more about never being satisfied with "just okay." I’ve always wanted projects to reach their full potential. That ambition can sometimes be daunting to others, especially when resources and time are limited.
Early on, I had to learn the balance between striving for excellence and understanding that sometimes "good enough" is truly good enough. A client once told me, "Don't let perfect become the enemy of good," and that advice stuck with me. In government work, you can't always swing for the fences on every single idea. I’ve learned to temper my urgency with realism, recognizing that moving the needle, even incrementally, is still progress. There's a season for everything, and I've come to appreciate that big ideas sometimes have to unfold step by step.
The U.S. House of Representatives is a unique and vital part of our democracy. One of its most important powers is control over the “purse strings”—meaning it has the authority to start all bills related to government spending and taxation. This gives the House a powerful role in shaping how taxpayer dollars are used, from funding schools and roads to supporting national defense. It ensures that the people's voice, through their elected representatives, directly influences the nation’s priorities. In addition, the House serves as a key check and balance on the other branches of government. It can investigate and hold hearings to keep the executive branch accountable and even has the sole power to impeach federal officials, including the President. With members elected every two years, the House stays closely tied to the will of the people. Its structure and responsibilities make it a cornerstone of the American government, balancing power and protecting democracy.
Having previous experience in government or politics is a major advantage for anyone serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. To truly fix a system or improve how it works, you first have to understand it. Government is complex, with laws, procedures, and policies that affect millions of people. A representative who has already worked in local or state government brings valuable knowledge about how these systems function—and where they fall short. Experience at the local level, like serving on a city council or as mayor of a city, helps future members of Congress understand the real-life impact of federal decisions on communities. It also teaches them how to listen to constituents, navigate budgets, and work with others to solve problems. These skills are essential in Washington, where collaboration and informed decision-making are key. While fresh perspectives are important, having a solid foundation in how government operates ensures that representatives can hit the ground running, make smarter choices, and better serve the people who elected them.
One of the greatest challenges the United States will face over the next decade is remaining a true beacon of democracy for the world. For generations, our nation has stood as a symbol of freedom, individual rights, and the power of the people. But today, that legacy is being tested. At home, we see growing political division, attacks on democratic institutions, and rising mistrust in our elections. Abroad, authoritarian regimes are gaining influence, and our global leadership is being questioned. The world is watching how we respond. If we allow misinformation, voter suppression, or political violence to take root, we risk weakening the very foundations of our democracy. To remain a global example, we must protect free and fair elections, uphold the rule of law, and come together across differences. It’s not about party—it’s about the future of our country and the values we stand for. Our challenge is clear: we must show the world that democracy is not only worth defending, but still works.
A two-year term for members of the U.S. House of Representatives ensures they stay closely connected to the people they serve. Because elections happen frequently, representatives must constantly listen to their constituents’ concerns and work hard to earn their trust. This short term keeps them accountable—if they don’t deliver results or stay in touch with the needs of their district, voters have the chance to choose someone new every two years. It encourages responsiveness, transparency, and a strong connection to local issues. The two-year cycle was designed to make sure the House truly reflects the will of the people, adapting quickly to changes in public opinion and keeping democracy active and alive.
America was founded on the principle that the government should serve the people—not career politicians or special interests. That’s why it’s time to explore a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for members of the U.S. Congress. Term limits would help bring fresh ideas and new energy to Washington, while reducing the influence of entrenched politicians who lose touch with the people they represent. However, the amendment must strike a careful balance. Too short of a term limit risks shifting power to unelected lobbyists and bureaucrats, who would hold more experience than our elected officials. Too long of a limit, on the other hand, can allow politicians to grow complacent and unresponsive to voters. The right approach preserves institutional knowledge while ensuring that no one remains in office indefinitely. Term limits would strengthen our democracy, encourage accountability, and return power to where it belongs—with the people. Let’s make Congress work for us again.
If you ask me which representative I’d want to model myself after, I’d say Tip O’Neill. He was the Democratic Speaker of the U.S. House working with a Republican president, and he still managed to find common ground to move the country forward. What I admire—and what I want to emulate—is that he understood the value of pragmatic, local-first solutions. He famously said, "All politics is local," and I’ve seen that in my own experience. There’s no such thing as a red or blue pothole—problems are practical, and solutions should be too. O’Neill’s ability to bridge divides and get things done is exactly the kind of leadership I believe in. In other words, I want to lead the same way: focus on real issues, work together, and keep moving forward.
One story that stands out to Cyril goes back about 11 years, when he was just 22 and doing mentoring work with a local branch of the Children's Home Society. Cyril was deeply involved in enriching young people's lives—tutoring, career exploration, you name it. The program’s director, Sara Harper, was the first person to tell him, "You're going to be the mayor of High Point one day."
She saw something in Cyril—not just that I was working hard without any desire for recognition, but that I genuinely loved the work and was willing to network and build relationships to help these kids. In fact, Sara believed in Cyril’s work so much that she got her own grandson into the program he was teaching music in. She always told him, "Cyril, you've got the heart, the work ethic, and the skill to make a difference." Hearing that at such a young age had a bigger impact on Cyril than he realized at the time. It was a moment that really shaped his path.
Compromise is not a weakness in policymaking—it's a strength. Our country was founded on compromise. The Constitution itself was the result of hard-fought agreements between states with very different interests. The founders understood that in a diverse nation, no one side can—or should—get everything they want. That’s still true today. Real progress happens when we bring different perspectives to the table and find common ground. This doesn’t mean giving up your values or beliefs. It means recognizing that others have values too, and that moving forward often requires meeting in the middle. The alternative is gridlock, frustration, and policies driven by extremes—something that rarely reflects the will of most Americans. We can’t afford that. If we want to solve big issues like the economy, immigration, healthcare, and national security, we need leaders who are willing to listen, negotiate, and act. Compromise doesn’t mean settling—it means building durable, practical solutions that can last. It’s how we make democracy work, and it’s what the American people deserve.
The Constitution clearly states that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives. That’s not just a formality—it’s a reflection of the Founders’ belief that decisions about how we collect and spend taxpayer money should be made by the body closest to the people. As your Congressman, I will not take that responsibility lightly. Every dollar the federal government spends comes from hardworking Americans, and I believe you deserve accountability, transparency, and a voice in how that money is used.
Being entrusted with the power of the purse is one of the most important duties of this office. Whether it's funding our military, supporting education, improving infrastructure, or ensuring access to healthcare, I will approach each decision with care, common sense, and a commitment to fiscal responsibility. I understand that every vote I take on spending and taxation impacts families, small businesses, and future generations.
You work hard for your paycheck, and I’ll work just as hard to ensure it’s used wisely. I’ll fight to eliminate waste, protect essential services, and always prioritize the needs of our district and our country. The responsibility to manage your tax dollars is one I carry with seriousness and humility, and I will keep that in mind with every decision I make in Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives has a constitutional responsibility to serve as a check on the other branches of government—and that includes using its investigative powers when necessary. These powers exist to ensure that our government remains transparent, accountable, and focused on serving the American people. Investigations should be fact-driven and rooted in the goal of protecting the public interest—not scoring political points.
When used properly, congressional investigations can uncover waste, fraud, abuse of power, or failures in leadership. But when used recklessly or for partisan gain, they damage trust in our institutions and distract from the real issues facing the country. I believe investigations should be guided by principle, not politics. As your Congressman, I will support oversight efforts that hold the government accountable and ensure it is working for you—not for the benefit of any one party or politician.
Cyril is honored to be supported by leaders who know what effective, people-centered leadership looks like. Supporters of his campaign include former Congresswoman for North Carolina’s 6th District Kathy Manning, the first person to commit financial support to this race; Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (through PAC to the Future); former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Guilford County Commission Chair Skip Alston; and Guilford County Board of Education Chair Deena Hayes-Greene, along with a wide range of community, education, faith, and business leaders from across North Carolina’s 6th District. Their support reflects confidence in his record of service, problem-solving, and future-focused leadership.
The United States government has an important role to play in the development and use of artificial intelligence. We must strike a careful balance: promoting innovation and competitiveness while also protecting consumers and national security. As AI technology rapidly evolves, we cannot afford to implement overly burdensome regulations that put the U.S. at a disadvantage compared to global competitors like China. America should lead the world in AI development—not fall behind it.
At the same time, we must ensure AI is not used for harmful or unethical purposes. That means putting strong safeguards in place to prevent misuse, protect personal privacy, and guard against threats to jobs and safety. Consumer protection must be at the center of our policy decisions, and we must remain vigilant against the risks AI can pose if left unchecked. With smart, balanced policy, we can ensure AI strengthens our economy and society without compromising our values or security.
One of the most important parts of our democracy is the right to vote. Throughout American history, we’ve worked to expand that right so more people can have a say in their government. The 15th Amendment gave people of color the right to vote. The 19th Amendment granted that right to women. The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18, allowing young adults to fully participate in elections. And the Motor Voter Act made registering to vote easier by allowing people to register when getting a driver’s license or interacting with government agencies. These milestones show that our country has always moved toward making voting more accessible—not less.
I believe the strength of our democracy comes from the involvement of the people. That’s why I would support legislation that makes it easier for all eligible citizens to vote while still protecting the security and integrity of our elections.
First, we should implement automatic voter registration. When people apply for a driver’s license or other public services, they should be registered to vote unless they choose to opt out. This simple step would increase voter participation and reduce registration errors.
Second, we need to expand early voting and vote-by-mail options nationwide. Not everyone can vote on Election Day, and giving people more time and more ways to vote will help more citizens make their voices heard.
Third, Election Day should be a national holiday. No one should have to choose between going to work and casting their vote.
Finally, while increasing access, we must also ensure election integrity by using secure voting systems, requiring paper ballot backups, and having nonpartisan oversight.
Voting is a right, not a privilege. Let’s honor our history by continuing to move forward—by making it easier, not harder, for Americans to vote. Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2019
Cyril Jefferson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jefferson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a family man with family values, and I believe that translates to most folks throughout our community. We all want to feel safe. We all need economic opportunities to make a decent living. We all want our streets and infrastructure to be maintained. We all want to keep our tax and utility bills low and manageable. And finally, we all want to have a transparent government that represents our very best interests and values. Of all the candidates running for City Council Ward 1, I believe I am the most qualified and motivated. My service as a board member for organizations such as the YMCA, Open Door Ministries, and the Citizens Advisory Council prove my commitment to serving High Point's residents. Additionally, I lead efforts such as Educator Engagement for the HP Schools Partnership and also the Washington Street Renaissance Project. In the latter, I have successfully advocated for nearly 1 million dollars worth of investment to be sowed into the Washington Street community, most namely through our efforts for John Coltrane's childhood home, where I co-chair the Coltrane Project; we are committed to repurposing and preserving this home--that work is currently underway! I am an educator, minister, motivational speaker, and mentor...but none of those roles are as important as my role in being a husband and father. My family is my daily motivation. When the work gets tough, I remain committed because I am fighting for a better High Point that I can feel proud to raise my family in. Whoever sits in this seat for the next four years must possess the time, passion, and energy to make things happen. During this campaign season, I encourage voters not to trust empty promises but to look at the fruit of each candidate and judge us by the work that we have already done and are currently doing. This is a critical time for High Point. If Ward 1 is to get its just due, then we've got to get to work!
- Creating a community that supports and promotes stronger families
- Taking the weights off of our boats so that the rising tide can be felt by all
- Being committed to doing the hard work that is necessary to improve our community
I am passionate about the education and engagement of our youth. They are our future so we must be good stewards and ensure that they all have opportunities to pursue significance and success.
I am also passionate about economic & community development. Adequate jobs and housing are the cornerstones of a vibrant society.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on October 23, 2019
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on December 2, 2025
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