Biography & Campaign Analysis
2026 race
Josh Smead, an architect, is the Democratic nominee in the 2026 election for Missouri's 6th congressional district, which encompasses rural northern Missouri, St. Joseph and the Kansas City area north of the Missouri River.
The seat is open because the Republican incumbent, Sam Graves, who was reelected with 70.7% of the vote in 2024, withdrew from the race.
Smead won the Democratic primary with 47.7% of the vote, defeating transportation security officer Matt Levine with 30.2% and U.S. Army veteran Scot Pondelick with 22.1%. In the general election on November 3, 2026, he faces Republican Chris Stigall, a radio show host, and Libertarian Andy Maidment.