Chris Stigall

Stigall was born January 5, 1977, in Richmond, Missouri (Ray County).[6] According to his campaign website, his family later moved to Clay County, where he attended North Kansas City schools and graduated from Oak Park High School, and he earned a degree in broadcasting from Northwest Missouri State University, where he covered news for KXCV/KRNW.[4][5]

Stigall began in conservative talk radio in the early 2000s, then briefly served as a field representative and deputy communications director in Rep. Sam Graves's office before returning to radio on KCMO in Kansas City in 2006.[4][5] According to Wikipedia, he hosted the morning show on WPHT in Philadelphia from 2011 to 2019 and launched a nationally syndicated morning show on the Salem Radio Network in January 2025.[6] According to his campaign website, he has received the Phyllis Schlafly Truth in Journalism Award and the Clay County Republican Central Committee's Man of the Year award, and has served as a board member of Liberty USO.[5]

Stigall entered the 2026 race after Rep. Sam Graves, who has held the seat since 2001, announced he would not seek reelection.[9][3] Graves endorsed him, and he won the August 4, 2026 Republican primary over Kansas City Council member Nathan Willett.[9][6] KCUR reports that he has said he would not hold the seat as long as Graves did, and that President Trump has called him a "great friend" but, as of KCUR's guide, had not made an official endorsement.[3]

According to his campaign website, Stigall and his wife Christine, who have three children, live in Holt, Missouri, attend Kearney First Baptist Church and support school choice through the Herzog Foundation.[5] According to his campaign, he campaigned on support for President Trump's agenda on immigration, taxes, agriculture and gun rights, and on opposition to abortion.[5] He won the November 3, 2026 general election with 58.7% of the vote to Josh Smead's 39.0%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[2]