Inside the heated race to represent Kansas City's Northland in Congress

When powerful U.S. Rep. Sam Graves announced he would not seek a 14th term in Congress, his retirement kicked off a mad dash of candidates hoping to vie for his open seat.

Missouri’s sweeping 6th Congressional District, historically a Republican stronghold, stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland. Four Republicans, three Democrats and one Libertarian are jockeying for votes to succeed Graves this year.

Jim Ingram

Campaign website: https://imforingram.com/

Incumbent: No

Party: Republican

Political bio:

Jim Ingram graduated from Kansas State University and has worked an array of jobs, according to his campaign website.

He has worked at four banks and two utility companies, was a part-owner in several businesses and started a small business in Liberty. He also drove a tractor-trailer for a year, according to his website.

Other information voters should know:

Ingram’s campaign website outlines some of his policy objectives, including a focus on the use of paper ballots and photo IDs in elections. He’s also pushing for term limits, a so-called business bill of rights and a desire that “we all need to speak one language.”

If elected, Ingram has vowed to support President Donald Trump “anyway I can,” not vote for any tax increase and not to spend more than four terms in Congress.

In 2023, he published a book called “Ameristralia: Peace Through Strength for Humanity” that proposes the combination of Australia, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the U.S. into one country.

Chris Stigall

Campaign website: https://www.stigallforcongress.com/

Incumbent: No

Party: Republican

Political bio:

Chris Stigall has worked in conservative talk radio in Kansas City, Philadelphia and in northwest Missouri, where he now broadcasts a nationally syndicated radio show.

Born in Richmond in Ray County, Missouri, Stigall graduated from Oak Park High School and Northwest Missouri State University. In addition to his work in media, Stigall is also the content manager for the Herzog Foundation, a conservative group that pushes for school choice and “the development of quality Christ-centered K-12 education.”

Other information voters should know:

Stigall has earned the coveted endorsement of Graves, the powerful incumbent representative who is not seeking another term in Congress.

Stigall’s campaign website outlines his policy agenda, which promotes gun rights, rural health care access, anti-abortion causes, tax relief and boosting agriculture. Stigall also said he supports President Donald Trump’s efforts to promote cryptocurrency and crack down on illegal immigration.

Nathan Willett

Campaign website: https://www.nathanfornorthmissouri.com/

Incumbent: No

Party: Republican

Political bio:

Nathan Willett, a high school math teacher by trade, has represented a Northland district on the Kansas City Council since 2023.

Willett received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, where he served as student body president. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Other information voters should know:

Throughout his campaign, Willett has attempted to align himself with President Donald Trump and raise his profile among conservative voters.

His campaign website states that he is “Pro-Trump,” “Pro-Life” and “Pro-Family.” His policy agenda includes a push to curtail corruption in government, promote gun rights, boost agriculture and crack down on illegal immigration.

Willett faced some blowback after touting an endorsement from Eric DeValkenaere, the first Kansas City police officer ever convicted for killing a Black man. He also faced criticism for using a city email system to promote Republican talking points during Vice President JD Vance’s recent visit to Kansas City.

Cody J. Oshel

Campaign website: https://www.oshelformissouri.com/

Incumbent: No

Party: Republican

Political bio:

Cody Oshel, born in Trenton, has worked as a business consultant and served as a United Methodist pastor. He currently works as a senior specialist for Thrivent, a financial services firm, according to his LinkedIn page.

He previously served as the vice president of the Kansas/Missouri region of Thrivent’s Member Network and is a former board president and member of The Crossing Outreach in St. Joseph, according to his campaign website.

Other information voters should know:

Oshel’s campaign website outlines five specific policy agendas he plans to tackle if elected, from protecting the state’s agriculture industry to improving broadband access.

Those policies include protecting land ownership, boosting rural health care access, supporting a “fully-funded, modern military,” opposing tax increases and expanding broadband infrastructure.

Josh Smead

Campaign website: https://votesmead.com/

Incumbent: No

Party: Democrat

Political bio:

Josh Smead runs an architecture business called Liberty Design Development with his wife and hails from Liberty. Smead has amassed a large following online with more than 4,000 followers on Facebook.

On his campaign website, he said that he has worked on several multimillion-dollar projects, including NFL stadiums and other professional sports facilities.

Other information voters should know:

Smead has outlined his policy agenda under the tagline “Fighting for a brighter future.”

Those policies include improving healthcare access, fully funding public education and empowering the working class through affordable housing and food programs. Smead’s website states that he supports the Second Amendment while also backing “common sense reforms.”

Scot Pondelick

Campaign website: https://scotforcongress.com/

Incumbent: No

Party: Democrat

Political bio:

Scot Pondelick, who hails from Kansas City, previously served three combat deployments in Iraq as an explosive ordnance disposal technician, according to his campaign website.

Upon returning to the U.S., he helped aid other veterans transition into civilian life and served as CEO and president of a nonprofit board called Nineline Veterans Services. When he moved to Kansas City, he became a service animal trainer to help veterans with disabilities.

Other information voters should know:

Pondelick’s campaign website highlights six key policy areas, from expanded veterans’ access to health care to a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gerrymandering.

Pondelick’s other priorities include fighting for policies that would promote lower costs for Americans, strengthening safety nets for rural farmers and a promise to never support a war “without a defined objective or honest explanation of the stakes.”

Matt Levine

Campaign website: https://www.levine4congress.com/

Incumbent: No

Party: Democrat

Political bio:

Matt Levine, a part-time educator, has received degrees from the University of Maine, Grand Canyon University and Southern New Hampshire University.

Levine’s campaign website states he is currently a security officer at Kansas City International Airport.

The Star recently revealed that Levine was arrested in New Hampshire in 2011 after police alleged he sent sexually explicit Facebook messages to a 15-year-old former student and solicited nude photos. The case was ultimately dismissed and Levine has denied sending the messages.

Other information voters should know:

Levine’s campaign website outlines his policy agenda, which includes promoting “a fair and nondiscriminatory education,” the economy and building a better health care system.

Levine’s platform includes defending LGBTQ rights, modernizing health care for veterans, halting “billionaire tax breaks,” and ensuring healthcare protections for people with preexisting conditions.

Andy Maidment

Campaign website: https://www.maidmentformissouri.com/

Incumbent: No

Party: Libertarian

Political bio:

Andy Maidment describes himself on his campaign website as a retired Army officer and an IT security professional with a history degree from Missouri State University.

He currently works as a cybersecurity engineer, according to his LinkedIn profile. He listed an address in Kearney, Missouri, when he filed to run for Congress.

Other information voters should know:

Maidment’s campaign largely centers on Libertarian views around individual liberty. On his website, he promotes four main ideas: limited government, “keep your money,” peace and prosperity and accountability.

Maidment’s website mentions the idea that “taxation is theft” and the need to expand gun rights. He’s also pushing to eliminate certain federal departments, including the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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