# Missouri's 6th congressional district

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 town of St. Joseph. The district includes much of Kansas City north of the Missouri River (including Kansas City International Airport).
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 a 16-year Republican incumbent.
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.
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.

## 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.
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. The district also moved into the St. Louis metropolitan area for the first time, gaining most of 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:
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 6th)
Knox County (7)
    All 7 communities
Lewis County (6)
    All 6 communities
Lincoln County (13)
    All 13 communities
Linn County (8)
    All 8 communities
Livingston County (7)
    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

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District created March 4, 1853 ||||||
| John S. Phelps (Springfield) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1863 | 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th | Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. Re-elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858. Re-elected in 1860. Retired. | |
| Austin A. King (Richmond) | Union | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 | 38th | Elected in 1862. Lost re-election. | |
| Robert T. Van Horn (Kansas City) | Republican | March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1871 | 39th 40th 41st | Elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868. Retired. | |
| Abram Comingo (Independence) | Democratic | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | Elected in 1870. Redistricted to the 8th district. | |
| Harrison E. Havens (Springfield) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1872. Lost re-election. | |
| Charles H. Morgan (Lamar) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | 44th 45th | Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Lost re-election. | |
| James R. Waddill (Springfield) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 46th | Elected in 1878. Retired. | |
| Ira S. Haseltine (Springfield) | Greenback | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Elected in 1880. Lost re-election. | |
| John Cosgrove (Boonville) | Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | Elected in 1882. Renominated in 1884 but withdrew before election. | |
| John T. Heard (Sedalia) | Democratic | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1893 | 49th 50th 51st 52nd | Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Redistricted to the 7th district. | |
| David A. De Armond (Butler) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – November 23, 1909 | 53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st | Redistricted from the 12th district and re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 23, 1909 – February 1, 1910 | 61st | | |
| Clement C. Dickinson (Clinton) | Democratic | February 1, 1910 – March 3, 1921 | 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected to finish De Armond's term. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Lost re-election. | |
| William O. Atkeson (Butler) | Republican | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923 | 67th | Elected in 1920. Lost re-election. | |
| Clement C. Dickinson (Clinton) | Democratic | March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1929 | 68th 69th 70th | Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Lost re-election. | |
| Thomas J. Halsey (Holden) | Republican | March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1931 | 71st | Elected in 1928 Lost re-election. | |
| Clement C. Dickinson (Clinton) | Democratic | March 4, 1931 – March 3, 1933 | 72nd | Elected in 1930. Redistricted to the At-large district. | |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | All representatives elected At-large on a general ticket | |
| Reuben T. Wood (Springfield) | Democratic | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1941 | 74th 75th 76th | Redistricted from the At-large district and re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Lost re-election. | |
| Philip A. Bennett (Springfield) | Republican | January 3, 1941 – December 7, 1942 | 77th | Elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942 but died before term began. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 7, 1942 – January 12, 1943 | 77th 78th | | |
| Marion T. Bennett (Springfield) | Republican | January 12, 1943 – January 3, 1949 | 78th 79th 80th | Elected to finish his father's term. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Lost re-election. | |
| George H. Christopher (Amoret) | Democratic | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951 | 81st | Elected in 1948. Lost re-election. | |
| Orland K. Armstrong (Springfield) | Republican | January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 | 82nd | Elected in 1950. Retired. | |
| William C. Cole (St. Joseph) | Republican | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | 83rd | Elected in 1952. Lost re-election. | 1953–1963 [data missing] |
| William Raleigh Hull Jr. (Weston) | Democratic | January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1973 | 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd | Elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Retired. | 1953–1963 [data missing] |
| William Raleigh Hull Jr. (Weston) | Democratic | January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1973 | 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd | Elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Retired. | 1963–1973 [data missing] |
| Jerry Litton (Chillicothe) | Democratic | January 3, 1973 – August 3, 1976 | 93rd 94th | Elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Died. | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 3, 1976 – November 2, 1976 | 94th | | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| Tom Coleman (Gladstone) | Republican | November 2, 1976 – January 3, 1993 | 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Elected to finish Litton's term. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Lost re-election. | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| Tom Coleman (Gladstone) | Republican | November 2, 1976 – January 3, 1993 | 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Elected to finish Litton's term. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Lost re-election. | 1983–1993 [data missing] |
| Pat Danner (Kansas City) | Democratic | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Retired. | 1993–2003 [data missing] |
| Sam Graves (Tarkio) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – present | 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 1993–2003 [data missing] |
| Sam Graves (Tarkio) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – present | 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2003–2013 |
| Sam Graves (Tarkio) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – present | 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 |
| Sam Graves (Tarkio) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – present | 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present |

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 55% - 42% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 62% - 38% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 67% - 28% |
| 2016 | Senate | Blunt 56% - 40% |
| 2016 | Governor | Greitens 58% - 39% |
| 2016 | Lt. Governor | Parson 59% - 36% |
| 2016 | Secretary of State | Ashcroft 66% - 30% |
| 2016 | Attorney General | Hawley 66% - 34% |
| 2018 | Senate | Hawley 60% - 36% |
| 2018 | Auditor | McDowell 52% - 41% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 68% - 31% |
| 2020 | Governor | Parson 67% - 30% |
| 2020 | Lt. Governor | Kehoe 68% - 29% |
| 2020 | Secretary of State | Ashcroft 72% - 25% |
| 2020 | Treasurer | Fitzpatrick 69% - 28% |
| 2020 | Attorney General | Schmitt 69% - 28% |
| 2022 | Senate | Schmitt 65% - 32% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 69% - 30% |
| 2024 | Senate | Hawley 65% - 32% |
| 2024 | Governor | Kehoe 69% - 29% |
| 2024 | Lt. Governor | Wasinger 67% - 29% |
| 2024 | Secretary of State | Hoskins 67% - 30% |
| 2024 | Treasurer | Malek 67% - 29% |
| 2024 | Attorney General | Bailey 70% - 28% |

## Election results
### 1996

United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 1996 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 246,282 | 100% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | |

### 1998

United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 1998 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 129,777 | 100% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | |

### 2000

United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2000 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 273,201 | 100% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | |

### 2002

United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2002 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 208,088 | 100% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |

### 2004

United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2004 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 307,885 | 100% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |

### 2006

United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2006 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 244,795 | 100% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |

### 2008

United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2008 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 330,699 | 100% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 62,353 | 18.8% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |

### 2010

Missouri's 6th district general election, November 2, 2010 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 221,912 | 100.00 |

### 2012

Missouri's 6th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 333,688 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

Missouri's 6th congressional district, 2014 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 186,970 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

Missouri's 6th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 350,444 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

Missouri's 6th congressional district, 2018 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 305,409 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

Missouri's 6th congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 385,779 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |