--- title: "Smead vs. Stigall: 2026 Missouri’s 6th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-mo-06" updated: "2026-08-05" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Missouri’s 6th District race: Josh Smead (D) vs. Chris Stigall (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 5, 2026 Missouri's 6th Congressional District election features Democratic nominee Josh Smead against Republican nominee Chris Stigall for an open seat left by retiring Republican incumbent Sam Graves. Following the August 4, 2026 primary, the general election hinges on agricultural policy, rural healthcare preservation, tax policy, border security, and reproductive rights across North Missouri. ## Candidates - **Josh Smead** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Josh_Smead) - **Chris Stigall** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Stigall) ## Issues ### Agriculture & Rural Development Salience: high Smead emphasizes regulating corporate land ownership and securing right-to-repair protections, whereas Stigall focuses on deregulation and expanding trade access in line with Trump's platform. **Josh Smead:** Supports family farms and smart trade Smead prioritizes family-run farms over corporate hedge funds, advocating for a farmer's right to repair equipment, trade stability, and sustainable practices. He opposes erratic tariff policies that spark trade wars and squeeze local producers. - Enact right-to-repair protections for agricultural equipment - Restrict corporate hedge funds from purchasing local agricultural land - Incentivize soil health, water conservation, and ag-tech innovation > “I believe in smart trade, not bailouts — and policies that put small and family-run farms first.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) > “Family farms come first, not hedge funds buying up agricultural land, with reforms that keep ownership local and reward the people who work the land.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** Supports deregulation and market access Stigall views agriculture as North Missouri's leading industry and aligns with Donald Trump's policy platform to boost domestic food production. He pledges to fight for a seat on the House Agriculture Committee to roll back federal regulations. - Seek appointment to the House Agriculture Committee - Expand international market access for Missouri agricultural products - Cut federal regulations hindering family farms > “Agriculture is North Missouri's number one industry, and our farmers deserve a strong voice in Washington.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) > “I support President Trump's efforts to expand market access, strengthen domestic food production, and reduce burdensome regulations that hurt family farms.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) ### Healthcare & Rural Hospitals Salience: high Smead advocates protecting and expanding Medicaid to safeguard rural hospitals, while Stigall focuses on cutting federal mandates and regulations. **Josh Smead:** Supports expanding Medicaid and rural access Smead opposes federal Medicaid cuts and advocates targeted investments to keep rural hospitals open. He supports policies guaranteeing that emergency, basic, and maternity care are accessible within a one-hour drive for all district residents. - Strengthen and protect Medicaid funding from congressional cuts - Expand medical residency programs directed to rural hospitals - Guarantee basic, emergency, and maternity care within a one-hour drive > “We need to strengthen Medicaid, not slash it, and invest in rural healthcare so families can grow and age in the communities they love.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) > “Every Missourian should have emergency and basic care within a one-hour drive, with targeted support for underserved and rural communities.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** Supports deregulation and hospital mandate relief Stigall attributes rural hospital struggles to federal mandates, workforce shortages, and low reimbursement rates. He advocates cutting federal bureaucracy to lower healthcare costs and improve local care delivery. - Reduce federal mandates and administrative red tape on healthcare providers - Increase reimbursement rates and address workforce shortages in small towns - Partner with the federal executive branch to expand local healthcare options > “Too many rural hospitals are struggling under the weight of federal mandates, workforce shortages, and declining reimbursement rates.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) > “I will work alongside President Trump to reduce red tape, expand access to care, strengthen rural hospitals, and ensure families in small towns can access quality healthcare close to home.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) ### Taxes & Economic Policy Salience: high Smead opposes tax breaks for high earners and criticizes trade tariffs, while Stigall advocates making Trump's tax cuts permanent. **Josh Smead:** Opposes billionaire tax breaks and tariffs Smead opposes tax cuts for high earners and corporations, arguing they strain the federal budget and lead to cuts in public services. He criticizes unilateral tariffs for driving up costs for consumers and trade workers. - Oppose tax breaks and federal subsidies for corporations and billionaires - Protect working families from retaliatory tariff costs - Direct federal resources toward middle-class economic support and capital for small businesses > “Tariffs have become a political tool, but too often it’s working families — not foreign governments — who pay the price.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) > “Meanwhile, household debt just hit a record $17.3 trillion, and billionaires still enjoy tax breaks and subsidies. It’s time Congress stopped protecting the powerful and started investing in the people.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** Supports permanent tax cuts Stigall favors tax relief for working families, small business owners, and farmers. He advocates making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent to encourage economic growth and job creation. - Make President Trump's tax cuts permanent - Oppose tax increases on individuals, farmers, and small businesses - Promote economic growth by constraining the size of federal government spending > “Families, farmers, and small businesses deserve tax relief - not bigger government.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) > “I support making President Trump's tax cuts permanent and will fight against any effort to raise taxes on hardworking Americans.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) ### Abortion & Reproductive Rights Salience: high Smead favors protecting individual abortion access, whereas Stigall is proudly pro-life and opposes taxpayer funding for abortion. **Josh Smead:** Supports federal abortion rights Smead supports individual bodily autonomy and opposes federal or state restrictions on abortion access. He argues that healthcare decisions belong strictly to individuals rather than politicians. - Protect reproductive freedom and abortion access - Oppose state and federal bans on reproductive choices > “Missourians deserve sovereignty over their own bodies — plain and simple.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) > “I trust Missourians to make personal decisions for themselves — not the government.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** Opposes abortion and taxpayer funding Stigall is pro-life and opposes taxpayer funding for abortion services. Endorsed by the Missouri Right to Life PAC, he supports measures defending unborn life at the federal level while recognizing state-level decision-making. - Oppose federal taxpayer funding for abortion providers - Support pro-life legislation protecting unborn children - Earned endorsement from Missouri Right to Life PAC > “I am proudly pro-life and believe every human life is a gift from God that deserves protection.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) > “While abortion policy is increasingly being decided at the state level, I will oppose taxpayer funding for abortion and support efforts that protect innocent life.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) ### Border Security & Immigration Salience: high Smead emphasizes due process and court resources over mass detention, while Stigall supports border wall completion, mass deportations, and the SAVE Act. **Josh Smead:** Supports due process and court resources Smead supports lawful and transparent border enforcement grounded in constitutional due process. He advocates directing immigration resources toward judicial court capacity rather than building mass detention facilities. - Focus immigration funding on immigration courts and legal process efficiency - Oppose mass detention centers in favor of transparent, lawful enforcement > “Immigration enforcement should be lawful, transparent, and centered on due process, with resources focused on courts instead of mass detention centers.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** Supports border wall and SAVE Act Stigall advocates strict border enforcement policies, including finishing the border wall, ending catch-and-release, and deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes. He strongly backs the SAVE Act to restrict federal voting to U.S. citizens. - Finish physical wall construction along the southern border - Terminate catch-and-release programs and deport criminal undocumented immigrants - Pass the SAVE Act to enforce voter eligibility proof in federal elections > “A nation without secure borders is not a nation at all. I support President Trump's efforts to secure the border, finish the wall, end catch-and-release policies, and deport dangerous criminal illegal immigrants.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) > “I also support the SAVE Act to ensure only American citizens can vote in federal elections.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) ### Second Amendment & Gun Regulation Salience: high Smead advocates background checks and transaction records to prevent gun violence, whereas Stigall considers Second Amendment rights non-negotiable and opposes federal restrictions. **Josh Smead:** Supports gun safety reforms and Second Amendment Smead respects the Second Amendment right to bear arms while calling for pragmatic gun regulations to address youth firearm deaths. He advocates universal background checks, safe storage laws, and documented firearm transfers. - Mandate background checks on all firearm transactions - Implement safe storage regulations - Require basic record-keeping when firearms are sold or transferred > “I support and appreciate the Second Amendment because it works to keep tyrants at bay. However, guns are now the leading cause of death for children in Missouri — that’s not politics, that’s reality.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) > “That means requiring background checks on gun sales, encouraging safe storage, and documenting gun transactions.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** Opposes federal gun restrictions Stigall views the Second Amendment as non-negotiable and opposes federal gun control legislation. He believes gun violence should be combated by holding violent criminals accountable rather than imposing restrictions on law-abiding citizens. - Oppose federal gun control legislation and overreach - Protect law-abiding citizens' constitutional right to keep and bear arms - Focus criminal justice policy on penalizing violent criminals > “The Second Amendment is not negotiable. I support President Trump's commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and will oppose efforts to restrict those rights through federal overreach.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) > “In Congress, I will fight to defend our right to keep and bear arms while ensuring criminals, not responsible citizens, are held accountable for violent crime.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) ### Education & School Choice Salience: medium Smead opposes sending public tax funds to private institutions, while Stigall actively promotes school choice initiatives. **Josh Smead:** Supports funding public schools exclusively Smead advocates universal pre-K education and insists federal and state education funding remain strictly within public schools. He opposes school voucher models that direct tax dollars to private or religious schools. - Institute universal pre-kindergarten programs nationwide - Restrict public education tax dollars from funding private or religious institutions - Create national bonus incentives for teachers serving in rural and high-need districts > “Public education funding belongs in public schools, not private or religious institutions.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** Supports school choice programs Stigall actively works with organizations like the Herzog Foundation to promote school choice options for families seeking alternatives to local public schools. - Promote school choice options for families through non-profit advocacy - Expand educational freedom beyond traditional public school systems ### Governance & Electoral Reform Salience: medium Smead focuses governance reform on congressional term limits and campaign finance restrictions, whereas Stigall emphasizes proof-of-citizenship voting requirements. **Josh Smead:** Supports congressional term limits and campaign reform Smead supports mandatory term limits for members of Congress, uncapping the number of U.S. House seats, and passing a constitutional amendment to regulate campaign spending. He strongly criticizes efforts to overturn democratic election results. - Enact mandatory term limits for federal lawmakers - Pass a constitutional amendment declaring money is not speech to regulate campaign finance - Uncap the total number of Representatives in the U.S. House - Investigate executive overreach and events surrounding January 6, 2021 > “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.” > — Josh Smead, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Josh_Smead) > “On January 6, 2021 slates of fake electors were forged in an attempt to overthrow the Federal government and hand the 2020 election to Donald Trump.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** Supports voter citizenship verification Stigall focuses his election integrity platform on requiring strict citizenship proof for federal voting through legislation like the SAVE Act. - Enact the SAVE Act to mandate proof of U.S. citizenship for federal election voting > “I also support the SAVE Act to ensure only American citizens can vote in federal elections. Protecting the integrity of our elections and securing our border are fundamental responsibilities of the federal government.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) ### Infrastructure & Energy Grid Salience: medium **Josh Smead:** Supports green energy grid investments Smead calls for major federal investments in rural roads, bridges, clean water, and flood management systems. He champions renewable transmission projects like the Grain Belt Express to supply low-cost power and enhance grid stability. - Support regional clean energy projects including the Grain Belt Express - Secure federal funding for rural roads, bridges, water infrastructure, and flood control - Fully fund rural broadband expansion across unserved communities > “Rural infrastructure has been neglected for too long—roads, bridges, water systems, and flood control need urgent investment.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) > “Projects like the Grain Belt Express offer exactly that — stable, low-cost power delivered to dozens of Missouri communities while strengthening our grid against blackouts and extreme weather.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** No documented position in our sources ### Cryptocurrency & Digital Finance Salience: medium **Josh Smead:** No documented position in our sources **Chris Stigall:** Supports digital asset innovation Stigall supports digital finance growth, backing Trump's plan to make the U.S. a global leader in cryptocurrency. He opposes heavy federal regulation that could drive tech capital overseas to competitors like China. - Prevent burdensome federal regulations on digital asset companies - Ensure the United States leads global innovation in digital finance over foreign competitors > “I support President Trump's efforts to make America the world leader in cryptocurrency and digital asset innovation.” > — Chris Stigall, via [Campaign site](https://www.stigallforcongress.com/) ### Labor & Organized Unions Salience: medium **Josh Smead:** Supports union organizing and fair wages Smead strongly aligns with organized labor, crediting unions with creating middle-class workplace standards. He opposes federal policy changes that restrict collective bargaining rights or undercut federal employee union contracts. - Protect workers' right to organize and bargain collectively without interference - Strengthen protections and contract rights for federal employees - Support prevailing wage standards for infrastructure construction > “I’m proudly pro-union because workers deserve a real voice, fair wages, and the freedom to organize without interference.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** No documented position in our sources ### Civil Rights & LGBTQ+ Protection Salience: low **Josh Smead:** Supports ERA and non-discrimination Smead champions equal protection under the law for all citizens, advocating ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and statutory anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. - Support adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) - Oppose discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQ+ individuals > “Everyone deserves to live freely and equally — no exceptions. I believe in a government that protects rights, not one that polices personal lives.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** No documented position in our sources ### Postal Service Preservation Salience: low **Josh Smead:** Opposes USPS privatization Smead opposes privatizing the United States Postal Service, maintaining that reliable mail delivery is a vital public service necessary for rural communities. - Protect universal rural mail delivery services - Oppose federal efforts to privatize or reduce Postal Service funding > “The U.S. Postal Service is a service — not a profit machine. Just like we do not ask if the military turns a profit, we should not gut the Postal Service for failing to make one.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** No documented position in our sources ### Veterans Affairs Salience: low **Josh Smead:** Opposes cuts to VA services Smead opposes workforce reductions and service cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, arguing federal budgets should fully support military veterans rather than prioritize tax cuts. - Protect job positions and medical services within the VA system - Oppose budget cuts targeting veteran care programs > “I cannot understand why we are cutting jobs and services for Veterans, all to pay for a tax cut for the billionaires.” > — Josh Smead, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Josh_Smead) **Chris Stigall:** No documented position in our sources ### Selective Service & Military Draft Salience: low **Josh Smead:** Supports gender-neutral military draft Smead advocates updating military registration laws to require all able-bodied adults, regardless of gender, to register for Selective Service. - Expand Selective Service registration requirements to include both men and women > “I believe the Draft should include all able bodied Men & Women.” > — Josh Smead, via [Campaign site](https://votesmead.com/) **Chris Stigall:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/mo-06-house-election-winner) — MO-06 House Election Winner: Republicans 97.3%, Democrats 3.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-MO06-26) — MO-06 House winner?: Chris Stigall 96.9%, Josh Smead 4.4% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXMOPRIMARY-06R26) — MO-06 Republican nominee?: Chris Stigall 99.0%, Nathan Hall Willett 2.0%, Jim Ingram 1.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXMOPRIMARY-06D26) — MO-06 Democratic nominee?: Josh Smead 99.0%, Scot Pondelick 1.0%, Matt Levine 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-mo-06)