Sam Graves reaffirms endorsement for Chris Stigall at reception, praises Trump’s peace deal with Iran

RUSHVILLE, Mo. (KQTV) -- In a public reception for congressional candidate Chris Stigall on Thursday evening, retiring U.S. Representative Sam Graves reaffirmed his support for the candidate he hopes will take over his seat representing Missouri’s 6th Congressional District.

Graves, who has served the district for 26 years, made clear that among the candidates vying for his position, Stigall stood out to him for his maturity, knowledge, and deep roots in the region.

“I know most of the candidates running in this race, and I know Chris very well,” Graves said, noting that Stigall had previously worked for him. “I just think Chris has the maturity, he has the knowledge, he has the experience to be able to do really well for the Sixth District and to represent the people.”

Graves emphasized that Stigall’s familiarity with the district, being from Ray County and understanding its agricultural and rural character, made him the natural choice to carry on the work he has done for more than two decades.

Stigall, part of the Republican party, spoke with admiration for the congressman, recounting his time on Graves’s staff and the lessons he learned about constituent service.

“I have been so impressed with the service to the district that the congressman has offered over 26 years,” Stigall said. “Having worked for him for a time, I saw the commitment to constituent service. That’s the most important thing that an elected representative can do for their constituents in their district.”

Stigall pointed to the daily bureaucratic struggles faced by voters, from veterans’ benefits to Social Security and Medicare issues, as the kind of red tape he hopes to cut through if elected, where conversation touched on Stigall's vision for the district.

He stressed that northern Missouri's economy is built on agriculture and that he would prioritize securing a spot on the House Agriculture Committee, noting that no Missouri House member currently sits on that panel.

He also spoke about the need to support struggling rural hospitals and schools, framing those issues as essential to keeping small communities viable.

On data centers, Stigall emphasized local control and transparency, saying he wants communities to make their own decisions without federal interference, while also calling for greater openness from developers.

Graves framed his support for Stigall as a matter of trust and readiness.

“Chris has the knowledge, he has the experience to be able to do really well for the Sixth District."

Graves also spoke on recent peace deal involving Iran, with him praising the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle Iran's nuclear and military capabilities.

He called the deal a positive development that would benefit the United States without requiring American taxpayer dollars.

"We have taken out Iran's entire nuclear production capability and everything that they have," Graves said. "We've set them back decades. We've taken out their military, we've taken out their navy. And I think that's the best thing. You've got a country that continued to, time and time again, continue to threaten the United States and threaten Israel. And we just can't have that. And we certainly can't have them get any nuclear weapons. And so now is the time to move on, let their economy get back on track. And the good news with that is United States isn't going to have to spend any money doing that. And so I think this is a great thing."

As Stigall prepares for the campaign ahead, he says he's ready for any challenges.

"I'm walking away from a 25-year career in communications to hopefully represent the constituents of North Missouri for a time and do it well."

Voters in Missouri's 6th District will head to the polls for the primary on August 4, 2026, and the general election on November 3, 2026.