Missouri's 6th congressional district
U.S. House district for Missouri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Missouri's 6th congressional district takes in a large swath of land in northern Missouri, stretching across nearly the entire width of the state from Kansas to Illinois. Its largest voting population is centered in the northern portion of the Kansas City metropolitan area and the City of St. Joseph. The district includes much of Kansas City north of the Missouri River (including Kansas City International Airport).
income$75,637[1]
- 86.2% White
- 4.6% Two or more races
- 3.8% Hispanic
- 3.5% Black
- 1.0% Asian
- 0.8% other
| Missouri's 6th congressional district | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of district boundaries | |
| Representative | |
| Population (2024) | 788,896 |
| Median household income | $75,637[1] |
| Ethnicity |
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| Cook PVI | R+19[2] |
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The district takes in all or parts of the following counties: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, De Kalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Jackson, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Monroe, Nodaway, Pike, Platte, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Worth.
Notable representatives from the district include governors John Smith Phelps and Austin A. King as well as Kansas City Mayor Robert T. Van Horn. In 1976, Jerry Litton was killed on election night as he flew to a victory party after winning the Democratic nomination for United States Senate. The visitors center at Smithville Lake is named in Litton's memory. Democrat Pat Danner, a former aide to Jerry Litton, won the seat in 1992 becoming the first woman to be elected in the district, defeating 16-year Republican incumbent Tom Coleman.
George W. Bush beat John Kerry in this district 57%–42% in 2004. The district is represented by Republican Sam Graves, who has held the seat since 2001. Graves easily held on to his seat what was expected to be a tough 2008 election, defeating former Kansas City mayor Kay Waldo Barnes by 23 percentage points.
Graves announced on March 27, 2026 that he will not be seeking re-election.[3]
Historically, the 6th was not safe for either party. However, in recent years, it has trended Republican, mirroring the increasingly conservative bent of the more rural areas of Missouri that historically voted for Yellow Dog Democrats. President Donald J. Trump won the 6th District, under the 2026 boundaries, by a 63%-36% margin, trouncing Kamala Harris.
History
Redistricting following 2010 census
After Missouri lost a congressional seat following the 2010 census (in part because of losses in population in several rural northern Missouri counties), the 6th was expanded to include most of Missouri north of the Missouri River, stretching from border to border from Kansas to Illinois. The biggest geographic addition was in northeast Missouri (including Kirksville, Missouri and Hannibal, Missouri), which used to be the northern half of the old 9th district.[4]
The 6th lost Cooper and Howard counties to the 4th district, and Gladstone in southwestern Clay County to the 5th district. Meanwhile, the 6th was pushed further into Jackson County, taking in the northeastern portion between the Missouri River and Interstate 70, as well as a small sliver southwest of Independence.
In the 2020 redistricting, more of Clay County was ceded the 5th District, including North Kansas City, but gaining Ray County from the 5th. The district also moved into the St. Louis metropolitan area for the first time, gaining Lincoln County, including its largest city, Troy, from the 3rd district.
Composition
For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, townships, and municipalities:[5]
Adair County (6)
- All 6 communities
Andrew County (9)
- All 9 communities
Atchison County (5)
- All 5 communities
Audrain County (9)
- All 9 communities
Buchanan County (8)
- All 8 communities
Caldwell County (7)
- All 7 communities
Caroll County (7)
- All 7 communities
Charlton County (9)
- All 9 communities
Clark County (8)
- All 8 communities
Clay County (13)
- Birmingham, Excelsior Springs (shared with Ray County), Glenaire, Homestead, Holt, Kansas City (part; also 4th and 5th; shared with Cass, Jackson, and Platte counties), Kearney, Liberty, Missouri City, Mosby, Paradise, Prathersville, Smithville
Clinton County (11)
- All 11 communities
Daviess County (10)
- All 10 communities
DeKalb County (8)
- All 8 communities
Gentry County (6)
- All 6 communities
Grundy County (8)
- All 8 communities
Harrison County (8)
- All 8 communities
Holt County (9)
- All 9 communities
Jackson County (7)
- Buckner, Independence (part; also 4th and 5th), Kansas City (part; also 4th and 5th; shared with Cass, Clay, and Platte counties), Levasy, River Bend, Sibley, Sugar Creek (part; also 5th)
Knox County (7)
- All 7 communities
Lewis County (6)
- All 6 communities
Lincoln County (13)
- All 13 communities
Linn County (8)
- All 8 communities
- All 7 communities
Macon County (10)
- All 10 communities
Marion County (3)
- All 3 communities
Mercer County (4)
- All 4 communities
Monroe County (6)
- All 6 communities
Nodaway County (18)
- All 18 communities
Pike County (12)
- All 12 communities
Platte County (19)
- All 19 communities
Putnam County (6)
- All 6 communities
Ralls County (6)
- All 6 communities
Randolph County (8)
- All 8 communities
Ray County (14)
- All 14 communities
Schuyler County (5)
- All 5 communities
Scotland County (5)
- All 5 communities
Shelby County (6)
- All 6 communities
Sullivan County (10)
- All 10 communities
Worth County (6)
- All 6 communities
List of members representing the district
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Recent election results from statewide races
2023–2027 boundaries
| Year | Office | Results[6] |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | President | McCain 55% - 42% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 62% - 38% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 67% - 28% |
| Senate | Blunt 56% - 40% | |
| Governor | Greitens 58% - 39% | |
| Lt. Governor | Parson 59% - 36% | |
| Secretary of State | Ashcroft 66% - 30% | |
| Attorney General | Hawley 66% - 34% | |
| 2018 | Senate | Hawley 60% - 36% |
| Auditor | McDowell 52% - 41% | |
| 2020 | President | Trump 68% - 31% |
| Governor | Parson 67% - 30% | |
| Lt. Governor | Kehoe 68% - 29% | |
| Secretary of State | Ashcroft 72% - 25% | |
| Treasurer | Fitzpatrick 69% - 28% | |
| Attorney General | Schmitt 69% - 28% | |
| 2022 | Senate | Schmitt 65% - 32% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 69% - 30% |
| Senate | Hawley 65% - 32% | |
| Governor | Kehoe 69% - 29% | |
| Lt. Governor | Wasinger 67% - 29% | |
| Secretary of State | Hoskins 68% - 30% | |
| Treasurer | Malek 67% - 29% | |
| Attorney General | Bailey 70% - 28% |
2027–2033 boundaries
| Year | Office | Results[7] |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | President | McCain 53% - 45% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 59% - 41% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 62% - 33% |
| Senate | Blunt 52% - 43% | |
| Governor | Greitens 55% - 42% | |
| Lt. Governor | Parson 56% - 39% | |
| Secretary of State | Ashcroft 63% - 33% | |
| Attorney General | Hawley 63% - 37% | |
| 2018 | Senate | Hawley 56% - 41% |
| Auditor | McDowell 49% - 45% | |
| 2020 | President | Trump 62% - 37% |
| Governor | Parson 62% - 36% | |
| Lt. Governor | Kehoe 62% - 35% | |
| Secretary of State | Ashcroft 66% - 31% | |
| Treasurer | Fitzpatrick 63% - 34% | |
| Attorney General | Schmitt 64% - 33% | |
| 2024 | President | Trump 63% - 36% |
| Senate | Hawley 60% - 38% | |
| Governor | Kehoe 63% - 35% | |
| Lt. Governor | Wasinger 61% - 35% | |
| Secretary of State | Hoskins 62% - 36% | |
| Treasurer | Malek 61% - 35% | |
| Attorney General | Bailey 64% - 34% |
Election results
|
1996 • 1998 • 2000 • 2002 • 2004• 2006• 2008• 2010• 2012• 2014• 2016• 2018• 2020• 2022• 2024 |
1996
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Pat Danner | 169,006 | 68.6% | ||
| Republican | Jeff Bailey | 72,064 | 29.3% | ||
| Libertarian | Karl H. Wetzel | 5,212 | 2.1% | ||
| Total votes | 246,282 | 100% | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
1998
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Pat Danner (Incumbent) | 136,774 | 70.9% | ||
| Republican | Jeff Bailey | 51,679 | 26.8% | ||
| Libertarian | Karl H. Wetzel | 4,324 | 2.2% | ||
| Total votes | 129,777 | 100% | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
2000
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Samuel B. Graves Jr. | 138,925 | 50.9% | ||
| Democratic | Steve Danner | 127,792 | 46.8% | ||
| Libertarian | Jimmy Dykes | 3,696 | 1.4% | ||
| Independent | Marie Richey | 2,788 | 1.0% | ||
| Total votes | 273,201 | 100% | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | ||||
2002
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Samuel B. Graves Jr. (Incumbent) | 131,151 | 63.0% | ||
| Democratic | Cathy Rinehart | 73,202 | 35.2% | ||
| Libertarian | Erik Buck | 3,735 | 1.8% | ||
| Total votes | 208,088 | 100% | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
2004
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Samuel B. Graves Jr. (Incumbent) | 196,516 | 63.83% | ||
| Democratic | Charles S. Broomfield | 106,987 | 34.75% | ||
| Libertarian | Erik Buck | 4,352 | 1.41% | ||
| Total votes | 307,885 | 100% | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
2006
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Samuel B. Graves Jr. (Incumbent) | 150,882 | 61.64% | ||
| Democratic | Sara Jo Shettles | 87,477 | 35.73% | ||
| Libertarian | Erik Buck | 4,757 | 1.94% | ||
| Progressive | Shirley A. Yurkonis | 1,679 | 0.69% | ||
| Total votes | 244,795 | 100% | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
2008
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Samuel B. Graves Jr. (Incumbent) | 196,526 | 59.4% | ||
| Democratic | Kay Barnes | 121,894 | 36.9% | ||
| Libertarian | Dave Browning | 12,279 | 3.7% | ||
| Total votes | 330,699 | 100% | |||
| Majority | 62,353 | 18.8% | |||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
2010
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves (incumbent) | 154,103 | 69.44 | |
| Democratic | Clint Hylton | 67,762 | 30.54 | |
| Write-In | Kyle Yarber | 47 | 0.02 | |
| Total votes | 221,912 | 100.00 | ||
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves (incumbent) | 216,906 | 65.0 | |
| Democratic | Kyle Yarber | 108,503 | 32.5 | |
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 8,279 | 2.5 | |
| Total votes | 333,688 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves (incumbent) | 124,616 | 66.6 | |
| Democratic | W. A. (Bill) Hedge | 55,157 | 29.5 | |
| Libertarian | Russ Monchil | 7,197 | 3.9 | |
| Total votes | 186,970 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves (incumbent) | 238,388 | 68.0 | |
| Democratic | David Blackwell | 99,692 | 28.5 | |
| Libertarian | Russ Lee Monchil | 8,123 | 2.3 | |
| Green | Mike Diel | 4,241 | 1.2 | |
| Total votes | 350,444 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves (incumbent) | 199,796 | 65.4 | |
| Democratic | Henry Martin | 97,660 | 32.0 | |
| Libertarian | Dan Hogan | 7,953 | 2.6 | |
| Total votes | 305,409 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves (incumbent) | 258,709 | 67.1 | |
| Democratic | Gena Ross | 118,926 | 30.8 | |
| Libertarian | Jim Higgins | 8,144 | 2.1 | |
| Total votes | 385,779 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves (incumbent) | 184,865 | 70.3 | |
| Democratic | Henry Martin | 72,253 | 27.5 | |
| Libertarian | Edward A (Andy) Maidment | 5,774 | 2.2 | |
| Total votes | 262,892 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2024
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Graves (incumbent) | 265,210 | 70.7 | |
| Democratic | Pam May | 100,999 | 26.9 | |
| Libertarian | Andy Maidment | 5,919 | 1.6 | |
| Green | Mike Diel | 3,058 | 0.8 | |
| Total votes | 375,186 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
