Biography
Josh Smead is the Democratic nominee for the open Missouri 6th District seat.[1][3] A licensed architect and small-business owner from Liberty, Missouri, he has not held elected office and is campaigning on revitalizing rural north Missouri and term limits.[2][3][4]
Smead graduated from Harrisonburg High School, earned a bachelor's degree from James Madison University in 2012 and a graduate degree from Iowa State University in 2016, according to Ballotpedia.[2] Ballotpedia lists his career experience as working as an architect and general contractor.[2] He describes himself as a licensed architect and small-business owner who runs a local architecture and development firm with his wife in Liberty, Missouri, and as a father of four.[2]
Smead won the Democratic primary for the 6th District on August 4, 2026, and KCUR reports that he has not previously held office.[4][3] He told St. Louis Public Radio that he decided to run in large part to help Democrats take back the U.S. House, and KCUR notes that the last time a Democrat held the seat was in 2001, under a different district configuration.[4][3]
- 1.United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.Josh Smead - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2025 Candidate's own words
- 3.Missouri 6th Congressional District voter guide: Stigall, Smead, Maidment · KCUR 89.3 · 2026-10-06 News report
- 4.Republican Chris Stigall will face Democrat Josh Smead in the race for Missouri's 6th District · St. Louis Public Radio · 2026-08-04 News report
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.