North Carolina's 6th Congressional District election, 2026

North Carolina redrew its congressional district boundaries in October 2025. Voters will elect representatives under the new map in 2026. Click here to read more about mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.

← 2024
North Carolina's 6th Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 19, 2025
Primary: March 3, 2026 Primary runoff: May 12, 2026 General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voting in North Carolina
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
North Carolina's 6th Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th North Carolina elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House raceArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House raceFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House raceOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House raceTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House raceVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House raceSubmit

All U.S. House districts, including the 6th Congressional District of North Carolina, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. The primary was March 3, 2026, and a primary runoff is May 12, 2026. The filing deadline was December 19, 2025. The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 120th Congress. All 435 U.S. House districts are up for election.

Currently, Republicans have a 218-214 majority with three vacancies in the chamber. To read more about the U.S. House elections taking place this year, click here. For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

• North Carolina's 6th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)
• North Carolina's 6th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)

Candidates and election results

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6

Incumbent Addison McDowell, Cyril Jefferson, and Joshua Hager are running in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Addison McDowell (R)
		Cyril Jefferson (D)
	Submit photo	Joshua Hager (Independent)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6

Cyril Jefferson defeated Alysa Kassay, Keith Davenport, and Beau Blair in the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cyril Jefferson	39.2	15,237
		Alysa Kassay	34.1	13,274
		Keith Davenport	16.8	6,547
		Beau Blair	9.9	3,840

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	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 38,898
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Tavin Felton-Stackhouse (D)

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Addison McDowell advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6.

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.

Cyril Jefferson

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "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.”"

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Key Messages

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

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Cyril Jefferson is running for Congress to deliver real results—not rhetoric—for North Carolina’s Sixth District.

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His approach is simple: put people first, build strong partnerships, and focus on solutions that work.

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Cyril is a husband, a father, a man of faith, and is guided by a calling to serve.

Voting information

See also: Voting in North Carolina

Election information in North Carolina: Nov. 3, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 31, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 9, 2026
• Online: Oct. 9, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 20, 2026
• By mail: Received by Oct. 20, 2026
• Online: Oct. 20, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 3, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 15, 2026 to Oct. 31, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (ET)

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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 says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What role should the United States government have in the development or use of artificial intelligence?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in the United States?

Cyril Jefferson (D)

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.

You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

• Joshua Hager

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Addison McDowell	Republican Party	$835,579	$655,918	$186,984	As of February 11, 2026
Beau Blair	Democratic Party	$23,100	$19,553	$3,930	As of February 11, 2026
Keith Davenport	Democratic Party	$12,441	$1,812	$10,398	As of February 11, 2026
Cyril Jefferson	Democratic Party	$146,994	$138,064	$8,930	As of February 11, 2026
Alysa Kassay	Democratic Party	$44,105	$44,328	$9,731	As of February 11, 2026
Joshua Hager	Independent	$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.
• 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.

Race ratings: North Carolina's 6th Congressional District election, 2026
Race tracker	Race ratings
	3/17/2026	3/10/2026	3/3/2026	2/24/2026
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Pending	Pending	Pending	Pending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe 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 North Carolina in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in North Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
North Carolina	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	5% of registered voters in the same party or 200, whichever is greater	$1,740	12/19/2025	Source
North Carolina	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	1.5% of all registered N.C. voters in the district, as of January 1 of the election year.	$1,740	12/19/2025	Source

District history

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

• 2024
• 2022
• 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6

Addison McDowell (R) defeated Kevin E. Hayes (Constitution Party) in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Addison McDowell (R)	69.2	233,303
		Kevin E. Hayes (Constitution Party)	30.8	104,017

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 337,320
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Derek Mobley (Independent)
• Anduin Craighill-Middleton (D)

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kathy Manning (D)

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Addison McDowell	26.1	21,285
		Mark Walker	24.1	19,633
		Christian Castelli	21.1	17,171
		Bo Hines	14.4	11,746
		Jay Wagner	9.2	7,462
		Mary Ann Contogiannis	5.1	4,195

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,492
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6

Incumbent Kathy Manning (D) defeated Christian Castelli (R) and Thomas Watercott (L) in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kathy Manning (D)	53.9	139,553
		Christian Castelli (R)	45.0	116,635
		Thomas Watercott (L)	1.1	2,810

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 258,998
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kent Garrett (Independent)

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for May 17, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Kathy Manning (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 without appearing on the ballot.

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christian Castelli	36.2	15,450
		Joseph Lee Haywood	33.7	14,390
		Mary Ann Contogiannis	12.2	5,211
		Gerry Austin	6.0	2,568
		Laura Pichardo	4.4	1,889
		Marvin Boguslawski	4.0	1,716
	Submit photo	William Schuch	3.4	1,452

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,676
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Libertarian Party primary

The Libertarian Party primary scheduled for May 17, 2022, was canceled. Thomas Watercott (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 without appearing on the ballot.

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6

Kathy Manning (D) defeated Joseph Lee Haywood (R) in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kathy Manning (D)	62.3	253,531
		Joseph Lee Haywood (R)	37.7	153,598

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 407,129
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jennyfer Bucardo (Independent)
• Bryson Gray (Independent)

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6

Kathy Manning (D) defeated Rhonda Foxx (D), Bruce Davis (D), Derwin Montgomery (D), and Edward Hanes Jr. (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kathy Manning	48.3	56,986
		Rhonda Foxx	19.9	23,506
		Bruce Davis	15.0	17,731
		Derwin Montgomery	12.5	14,705
		Edward Hanes Jr.	4.3	5,067

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 117,995
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Angela Flynn (D)

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6

Joseph Lee Haywood (R) defeated Laura Pichardo (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joseph Lee Haywood	73.3	28,842
		Laura Pichardo	26.7	10,529

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 39,371
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Vicky Craven Klund (R)

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district before and after redistricting ahead of the 2026 election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below is the district map used in the 2024 election next to the map in place for the 2026 election. Click on a map below to enlarge it.

2024

2026

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in North Carolina.

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in North Carolina in 2026. Information below was calculated on December 19, 2025., and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Sixty-seven candidates — 40 Democrats and 27 Republicans — ran for North Carolina’s 14 U.S. House districts. That’s 4.8 candidates per district. There were 4.6 candidates per district in 2024 and 7.14 in 2022. In 2020, when the state had 13 U.S. House districts, there were 4.9 candidates per district. There were 4.3 candidates in 2018, 5.7 in 2016, and 4.6 in 2014.

These were the first elections to take place since the General Assembly of North Carolina passed a new congressional map. The North Carolina Senate passed it on Oct. 21, 2025, and the North Carolina House of Representatives passed it Oct. 22, 2025.

No districts were open in 2026, meaning all incumbents — four Democrats and 10 Republicans — ran for re-election. The only other year since 2014 with no open districts was 2018.

Nineteen primaries — 11 Democratic and eight Republican — were contested in 2026. In total, there were 13 contested primaries in 2024, 22 in 2022, 13 in 2020, 17 in 2018, 16 in 2016, and 17 in 2014.

Eight candidates — six Democrats and two Republicans — ran for the 10th district, the most candidates who ran for a district in 2026.

Eight incumbents — two Democrats and six Republicans — faced a primary challenger in 2026. There were four incumbents in a contested primary in 2024, seven in 2022, three in 2020, eight in 2018, nine in 2016, and six in 2014.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 14 districts, meaning no districts were guaranteed to either party.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+9. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 9 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made North Carolina's 6th the 146th most Republican district nationally.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in North Carolina's 6th Congressional District

Kamala Harris	Donald Trump
42.7%	54.9%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in North Carolina, 2024

North Carolina presidential election results (1900-2024)

• 18 Democratic wins
• 14 Republican wins

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020	2024
Winning Party	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	R	R	R	R

See also: Party control of North Carolina state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of North Carolina's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from North Carolina
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	4	4
Republican	2	10	12
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	14	16

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in North Carolina's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in North Carolina, October 2025

Office	Officeholder
Governor	Josh Stein
Lieutenant Governor	Rachel Hunt
Secretary of State	Elaine Marshall
Attorney General	Jeff Jackson

State legislature

North Carolina State Senate

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	20
	Republican Party	30
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		50

North Carolina House of Representatives

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	49
	Republican Party	71
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		120

Trifecta control

North Carolina Party Control: 1992-2025
Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

See also

North Carolina	2026 primaries	2026 U.S. Congress elections
North Carolina congressional delegation Voting in North Carolina North Carolina elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

North Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Ted Budd (R)

Thom Tillis (R)

Representatives

District 1

Donald Davis (D)

District 2

Deborah Ross (D)

District 3

Gregory Murphy (R)

District 4

Valerie Foushee (D)

District 5

Virginia Foxx (R)

District 6

Addison McDowell (R)

District 7

David Rouzer (R)

District 8

Mark Harris (R)

District 9

Richard Hudson (R)

District 10

Pat Harrigan (R)

District 11

Chuck Edwards (R)

District 12

Alma Adams (D)

District 13

Brad Knott (R)

District 14

Timothy Moore (R)

Republican Party (12)

Democratic Party (4)

2025-2026 Elections to the United States Congress

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Election information

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