Missouri's 6th Congressional District election, 2026

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2024
Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 31, 2026
Primary: August 4, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Missouri

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Missouri's 6th Congressional District
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th
Missouri elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

All U.S. House districts, including the 6th Congressional District of Missouri, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Missouri District 6

Incumbent Sam Graves, Matthew Levine, Josh Smead, Jim Ingram, and Gena Ross are running in the general election for U.S. House Missouri District 6 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Sam Graves
Sam Graves (R)
Image of Matthew Levine
Matthew Levine (D) Candidate Connection
Image of Josh Smead
Josh Smead (D) Candidate Connection
Image of Jim Ingram
Jim Ingram (R) Candidate Connection
Image of Gena Ross
Gena Ross (R)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Image of Matthew Levine

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "My name is Matthew Levine. I was born and raised in New Hampshire and fell in love with Missouri after moving here over three years ago. I have a wife, two dogs and two cats and I love baseball, soccer and a good movie. I am very family oriented and all I have ever wanted to do was help people. I have a background in teaching, including teaching special needs children, and I now work for the Department of Homeland Security, where I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic. I am looking to run for Missouri Congressional District 6 to help lead Missouri into a better and brighter future."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


The education system is in ruins in this country. Especially for special needs children. Teachers need to be paid more, children need more individualized care. It is not one size fits all and every child matters. We need to take care of our children and their education. Our children need to have access to a free or reduced breakfast and lunch that is also healthier and more nutritious. This will increase their learning capabilities.


Healthcare is a huge problem in this country. With the government cutting funding for Medicare and Medicaid, the abomination that is women's Healthcare and reproductive care and the Healthcare offered to our veterans, we need change. With a new bill that is getting passed by the House of Representatives, there will be 13 million Medicaid patients that will be cut off their insurance, with 1.4 million coming from Missouri.


The economy is not where it needs to be for this country to thrive. With the tarrifs, the stock market has crashed. With the new bill being passed, it will add four trillion dollars of deficit. I want to help increase jobs to put more revenue into our country and employ our citizens.

Image of Josh Smead

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I’m Josh Smead, a father of four, licensed architect, and small business owner from Liberty, Missouri. My wife and I run a local architecture and development firm, and we’re raising our family with a deep commitment to building a better future. I’m not a career politician—I’m running for Congress to bring practical solutions and common sense to Washington. Rural North Missouri used to be more populated and economically vibrant; today, it needs revitalization. I believe in making rural America the best place to raise a family again, with strong infrastructure, thriving small towns, and opportunities that last for generations."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Family Everything I do is grounded in my role as a father of four. I believe Missouri should be the best place in the country to raise a family. That starts with safe communities, strong schools, affordable healthcare, and local economies that work for everyday people—not just the coasts or the corporations. When we put families first, we lay the foundation for a stronger, more united America.


Liberty As a small business owner and architect, I’ve seen firsthand how red tape and federal overreach can choke opportunity. Liberty means more than a slogan—it’s the right to build a life with dignity, to speak freely, work honestly, and live without government standing in your way. I’ll fight for term limits, defend the Constitution, and make sure Washington works for the people again.


Future North Missouri once thrived—more people, more energy, more opportunity. We can get there again, but it takes vision. That means revitalizing our rural towns, investing in modern infrastructure, and making sure our kids grow up with every chance to succeed. I’m running because we owe the next generation more than declining towns and broken promises—we owe them a future worth staying for.

Image of Jim Ingram

Website

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "Jim attended Kansas State University and was awarded an ROTC scholarship and subsequently commissioned as a 2LT upon graduation. Jim graduated with a BS in Business Administration. Jim spent four years of active duty service at Fort Leonard Wood where he also earned his MBA from Drury College in Springfield, MO. During his working career Jim worked at four banks and two utility companies. Jim was also part owner in several business ventures including a china and crystal store, a commercial wood working business, and lastly, he started his current small business in 1998 which is located in Liberty, MO. Jim also drove a tractor trailer for a year. Jim has been married to his wife for forty plus years and they have two children and five grandchildren."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Our Constitution has been in place for almost 240 years and has worked remarkably well for our nation even though it was drafted in the times of the horse and buggy. During this time we have passed 10 amendments providing for our Bill of Rights, a couple of amendments dealing with post civil war slavery issues, several amendments for the Presidency, and a couple of others dealing with Prohibition and other issues. The time has come to update the document for our current situation and current technology. We need to have a Constitutional Convention to take the existing document and tweak it in multiple areas to bring it up to date.


The most urgent constitutional changes need to deal with our election processes. Those processes must be fair and transparent. The changes we need to incorporate into a revised U.S. Constitution including the following: Term Limits End Gerrymandering Uniform Election Laws Every party will have a Primary for every office No Jungle Primaries or Caucuses States run all elections We all need to speak one language Balanced budget, except in times of war Equal Rights for Women Uniform Penal Code


There are also a multitude of other changes that need to be addressed and a Constitutional Convention is the only way to make all the needed changes in a timely manner. Trying to do dozens and dozens of tweaks to our constitution one at a time will not work (like the Equal Rights Amendment for women, which never passed) and will take too much time and be fodder for the politicians in Washington to debate and eviscerate. A career politician will not stand up and call for a Constitutional Convention because the political establishment will put up every road block possible to stop them.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Missouri

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

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Our Constitution has been in place for almost 240 years and has worked remarkably well for our nation even though it was drafted in the times of the horse and buggy. During this time we have passed 10 amendments providing for our Bill of Rights, a couple of amendments dealing with post civil war slavery issues, several amendments for the Presidency, and a couple of others dealing with Prohibition and other issues. The time has come to update the document for our current situation and current technology.

We need to have a Constitutional Convention to take the existing document and tweak it in multiple areas to bring it up to date.

The most urgent constitutional changes need to deal with our election processes. Those processes must be fair and transparent. The changes we need to incorporate into a revised U.S. Constitution including the following:

   Term Limits
   End Gerrymandering
   Uniform Election Laws
       Every party will have a Primary for every office
       No Jungle Primaries or Caucuses
       States run all elections
   We all need to speak one language
   Balanced budget, except in times of war
   Equal Rights for Women
Uniform Penal Code

There are also a multitude of other changes that need to be addressed and a Constitutional Convention is the only way to make all the needed changes in a timely manner. Trying to do dozens and dozens of tweaks to our constitution one at a time will not work (like the Equal Rights Amendment for women, which never passed) and will take too much time and be fodder for the politicians in Washington to debate and eviscerate. A career politician will not stand up and call for a Constitutional Convention because the political establishment will put up every road block possible to stop them.
The education system is in ruins in this country. Especially for special needs children. Teachers need to be paid more, children need more individualized care. It is not one size fits all and every child matters. We need to take care of our children and their education. Our children need to have access to a free or reduced breakfast and lunch that is also healthier and more nutritious. This will increase their learning capabilities.

Healthcare is a huge problem in this country. With the government cutting funding for Medicare and Medicaid, the abomination that is women's Healthcare and reproductive care and the Healthcare offered to our veterans, we need change. With a new bill that is getting passed by the House of Representatives, there will be 13 million Medicaid patients that will be cut off their insurance, with 1.4 million coming from Missouri.

The economy is not where it needs to be for this country to thrive. With the tarrifs, the stock market has crashed. With the new bill being passed, it will add four trillion dollars of deficit. I want to help increase jobs to put more revenue into our country and employ our citizens.
Family

Everything I do is grounded in my role as a father of four. I believe Missouri should be the best place in the country to raise a family. That starts with safe communities, strong schools, affordable healthcare, and local economies that work for everyday people—not just the coasts or the corporations. When we put families first, we lay the foundation for a stronger, more united America.

Liberty

As a small business owner and architect, I’ve seen firsthand how red tape and federal overreach can choke opportunity. Liberty means more than a slogan—it’s the right to build a life with dignity, to speak freely, work honestly, and live without government standing in your way. I’ll fight for term limits, defend the Constitution, and make sure Washington works for the people again.

Future

North Missouri once thrived—more people, more energy, more opportunity. We can get there again, but it takes vision. That means revitalizing our rural towns, investing in modern infrastructure, and making sure our kids grow up with every chance to succeed. I’m running because we owe the next generation more than declining towns and broken promises—we owe them a future worth staying for.
Our election processes must be uniform across the country and be fair and transparent .
I am personally passionate about the crime and policing that is going on in our country. I am deeply saddened by all of the January 6th pardons that occurred by our president. There is no place in our country for any person or group to physically assault any law enforcement officer. I am also incredibly angry that we are not doing anything in regards to gun reform so we can protect our kids and allow them to go to school to learn safely and not have to worry if they will make it home.
I’m deeply passionate about public policies that secure a better future for the next generation while honoring the generations that built this country. As a father and a builder, I see both the promise ahead and the urgent need to care for those who came before us. We must ensure our children inherit a nation with strong schools, safe communities, and lasting opportunity—and that our seniors live with dignity, support, and respect. As an architect, my personal expertise lies in buildings and infrastructure. From crumbling schools, roads, and bridges to outdated infrastructure, northern Missouri’s built environment needs more than patchwork fixes—it needs a generational investment in quality, sustainability, and resilience. The recent in
I look up to Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. All four exhibited great leadership in times of trouble.
Our elected official needs to work for the people. They must make the time to be available and listen to the concerns of all their constituents. We are elected to represent the voice of the people.
Integrity, Term Limits, and listening to the People.
I am an incredible listener and have empathy for all people I interact with. This would make me a successful officeholder because I would be able to better represent my constituents by placing myself in their shoes and being able to understand their concerns better.
If I set my mind to a task, I seek to achieve it.
The core responsibilities of someone that is elected is to represent the voice of their constituents. They are elected by the people to follow through on providing a better and brighter future for all.
The purpose of the House is to be the most responsive branch of government for the People!
I hope some day when my children or (possible) future grand children ask what I did during this time of turmoil and uncertainty in our world, I will tell them running for Congress is how I tried to make the biggest impact. I want to leave the world a better place.
The first historical event that happened in my lifetime that I remember is September 11th. I was 12 years old, sitting in my middle school English class when we got the announcement the first tower was hit. We went into lock down, every teacher brought in a television and we all watched the news. It was a scary moment because we were in New Hampshire which is not far from New York, or Washington D.C.
I was in 6th grade during 9/11, not a fun day at school!
My first job was at 15 working at a McDonalds.
I have always wanted to be Superman because I have always wanted to help people and make a difference in the world.
No
It is not a necessity in my opinion.
No, the purpose of our Democracy is that it is run by the People. New voices, fresh perspectives, and a new generation of leaders are needed in Washington more now than perhaps ever before. The Constitution clearly states the age limits for running for office, which is 25 years old for the House (I was born in 1990).
Income Inequality, imperial hostile foreign powers, balancing the budget, natural disasters
Yes I do believe that, but they should be allowed to run again for up a total of 12 years. After a certain point, it seems that they are no longer working for the people. Rather for their own personal interests.
Yes, but term limits are needed to prevent these long-term careers.
Term limits must be in place for all publicly elected officials, not just federal offices.
I do believe there should be term limits. Not like the president, but also not for 30 plus years either.
Term limits are necessary and long overdue. The House of Representatives is not a career path, we need responsive government that is in touch with the People.
I would want to model myself after Abraham Lincoln, with a mixture of JFK, and Hakeem Jefferies.
I have been studying and have found a great deal of respect for the late Jerry Litton, former Representative from Missouri's 6th District. His method of bringing Democracy to the People through his town halls (many which can be seen now on YouTube) is incredibly inspiring, and I would like to believe we can all strive to achieve a similar level of dialogue and transparency with our government.
When I first started getting organized with my campaign, one of the first people I heard from was a man who is a Veteran and had just been fired from his job at the VA. Literally a Veteran helping Veterans, and he was fired because the Trump administration decided to mass fire and cut services for the men and women who made the sacrifice to serve in the Military. I cannot understand why we are cutting jobs and services for Veterans, all to pay for a tax cut for the billionaires.
Congress was designed by our founders as an institution that forces consensus and compromise for any legislation getting passed. This prevents wide swings in policy from the left or right.
Yes I do believe compromise is necessary to build a better country.
Yes, it is often necessary for lasting policy.
I believe that both the House and the Senate should have the ability to originate bills that raise revenue, not just the House.
The overreaching Executive branch needs to be placed back in line with the language of the Constitution. We the People deserve a Representative who understands the importance of our Constitution and has loyalty to Country over political party.
The House needs to be investigating clear unconstitutional violations of the Separation of Powers for our Three Co-Equal branches of Government. The purpose of investigating power in the House is not to tear down political foes, but to examine and shine light on important topics for the American people. A shining example of the House using bipartisan investigations to bring important issues to the American people is the January 6th Committee and their informative and successful hearings.
If you have absolutely nothing to hide, then there shouldn't be any issues being transparent with your financials.
Highly important and always will be. Following a trail of money leads to a lot of important answers!
I started my current company in 1998 and have handed over the day-to-day operations to my daughter.
The election processes in this country must be standardized across every state and would need to be done through constitutional changes.


Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Sam Graves Republican Party $1,074,851 $550,505 $2,938,334 As of September 30, 2025
Matthew Levine Democratic Party $9,534 $8,330 $1,203 As of September 30, 2025
Josh Smead Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Jim Ingram Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Gena Ross Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]

Race ratings: Missouri's 6th Congressional District election, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
12/9/202512/2/202511/25/202511/18/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The HillPendingPendingPendingPending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Missouri in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Missouri, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Missouri U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A 300 3/31/2026 Source
Missouri U.S. House Unaffiliated 2% of votes cast for the office in the last election, or 10,000, whichever is less N/A 7/27/2026 Source


District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

2024

2022

2020

District analysis

This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.

See also

Missouri 2026 primaries 2026 U.S. Congress elections
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Ballot access

External links

Footnotes

  1. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  2. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  3. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  4. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
Bob Onder (R)
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
Republican Party (8)
Democratic Party (2)