U.S. House, Missouri 6th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Missouri's 6th Congressional District?
No candidate in Missouri's 6th Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Andy Maidment (6 of 15 criteria), Josh Smead (6 of 15 criteria) and Chris Stigall (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Libertarian
Andy Maidment
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Josh Smead
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Chris Stigall
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Andy Maidment. No public record found.
Josh Smead. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 14, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078101, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00900233
Chris Stigall. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed June 11, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076688, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00945832
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Andy Maidment. No public record found.
Josh Smead. No public record found.
Chris Stigall. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Andy Maidment. No public record found.
Josh Smead. No public record found.
Chris Stigall. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Andy Maidment. Served in the Army from 2000 to 2004 and the Army National Guard from 2004 to 2021, retiring as an officer. No formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia
Josh Smead. No public record found.
Chris Stigall. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Andy Maidment. Served in the Army and Army National Guard from 2000 to 2021; no official finding of misconduct found.
Source: Ballotpedia
Josh Smead. No public record found.
Chris Stigall. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Andy Maidment. Retired Army officer with 21 years in the Army and National Guard, now an IT security professional. Has not held elected office.
Source: Ballotpedia, 2024 survey
Josh Smead. A licensed architect who runs an architecture and development firm in Liberty with his wife. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, 2025 survey, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078101
Chris Stigall. A conservative talk radio host for about 25 years, including a nationally syndicated show; briefly a field representative for Rep. Sam Graves in the 2000s. Has not held elected office.
Source: STLPR, June 30, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Andy Maidment. States general positions on limited government, military spending and foreign policy in his surveys.
Source: Ballotpedia, 2026 survey
Josh Smead. Published positions on infrastructure, term limits and civil liberties, and backs a national moratorium on data centers until water and power standards exist; mostly general.
Sources: STLPR, Sept. 2, 2026, Ballotpedia, 2025 survey
Chris Stigall. States general priorities on rural health care, farm policy and regulation, and says he will seek a seat on the House Agriculture Committee; no detailed plans published.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Andy Maidment. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022, 2024 and 2026, and answered a St. Joseph News-Press candidate questionnaire.
Sources: Ballotpedia, St. Joseph News-Press via Yahoo, Sept. 30, 2024
Josh Smead. Completed Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey, appeared on STLPR's Politically Speaking podcast and publishes a campaign site.
Sources: Ballotpedia, STLPR, Sept. 2, 2026, Campaign site
Chris Stigall. Discussed his positions on STLPR's Politically Speaking podcast and in a Spectrum News Q&A, and publishes a campaign site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: STLPR, June 30, 2026, Spectrum News, Aug. 20, 2026, Ballotpedia
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Andy Maidment. Says he has lived in Missouri since he was 12 and graduated from Park Hill High School. Current residence within the district not established.
Source: Ballotpedia, 2024 survey
Josh Smead. Lives in Liberty in Clay County, in the 6th District; he grew up in Virginia. FEC by-state totals show about 82 percent of itemized individual contributions from Missouri.
Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia, FEC contribution totals by state
Chris Stigall. A Ray County native whose family settled in Clay County, both in the 6th District. FEC by-state totals show about 66 percent of itemized individual contributions from Missouri.
Sources: STLPR, June 30, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Andy Maidment. No public record found.
Josh Smead. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026, with no administrative fine and no debt; runs a small architecture and development firm.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00900233
Chris Stigall. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026, with no administrative fine; the committee reports $63,950 in debts.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00945832
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Andy Maidment. No public record found.
Josh Smead. No public record found.
Chris Stigall. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Andy Maidment. No public record found.
Josh Smead. No public record found.
Chris Stigall. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Andy Maidment. No public record found.
Josh Smead. No public record found.
Chris Stigall. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Andy Maidment. No public record found.
Josh Smead. No public record found.
Chris Stigall. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Andy Maidment. No public record found.
Josh Smead. No public record found.
Chris Stigall. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Missouri's 6th Congressional District?
No candidate in Missouri's 6th Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Andy Maidment (6 of 15 criteria), Josh Smead (6 of 15 criteria) and Chris Stigall (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Missouri's 6th Congressional District in 2026?
Andy Maidment (Libertarian), Josh Smead (Democratic), Chris Stigall (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Andy Maidment a good candidate for Congress?
Andy Maidment has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Josh Smead a good candidate for Congress?
Josh Smead has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Chris Stigall a good candidate for Congress?
Chris Stigall has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Missouri race scored, and the Missouri 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.