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).

Missouri's 6th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Population (2023)785,446
Median household
income
$71,515[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+21[2]
Rep. Graves (left) with George W. Bush at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri. March, 2007.

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.

Redistricting following 2010 census

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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.[3]

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 extended into Jackson County for the first time, 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.

List of members representing the district

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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)
Unionist 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 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 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 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.
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 August 3, 1976 –
November 2, 1976
94th
 
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
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.
2003–2013
 
2013–2023
 
2023–present
 

Election results from statewide races

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Year Office Results
2000 President George W. Bush 53 – Al Gore 44%
2004 President George W. Bush 57 – John Kerry 42%
2008 President John McCain 54 – Barack Obama 45%
2012 President Mitt Romney 60 – Barack Obama 38%
2016 President Donald Trump 63 – Hillary Clinton 32%
2020 President Donald Trump 63 – Joe Biden 35%

Election results

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1996199820002002200420062008201020122014201620182020

1996

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United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 1996[4]
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

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United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 1998[5]
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

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United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2000[6]
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

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United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2002[7]
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

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United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2004[8]
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

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United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2006[9]
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

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United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2008[10]
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

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Missouri's 6th district general election, November 2, 2010[11]
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

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Missouri's 6th congressional district, 2012 [12]
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

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Missouri's 6th congressional district, 2014[13]
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

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Missouri's 6th congressional district, 2016 [14]
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

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Missouri's 6th congressional district, 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

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Missouri's 6th congressional district, 2020[15]
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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "My Congressional District".
  2. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "UPDATE: House Redistricting Committee Unveils Map - OzarksFirst.com". Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  4. ^ 1996 Election Results
  5. ^ 1998 Election Results
  6. ^ 2000 Election Results
  7. ^ 2002 Election Results
  8. ^ Official Manual of the State of Missouri, 2005–2006, page 637
  9. ^ Official Manual of the State of Missouri, 2007–2008, page 649
  10. ^ 2008 Election Results
  11. ^ "November 2, 2010 General Election". Missouri Secretary of State. November 30, 2010. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  12. ^ House, Scott (May 14, 2005). "Fact Sheet on 6000 Caves". The Missouri Speleological Survey. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  13. ^ "State of Missouri - Election Night Results".
  14. ^ "2016 General Election Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  15. ^ "All Results State of Missouri – State of Missouri – General Election, November 03, 2020". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

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