{"biography":"Cyril Anthony Jefferson is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina\u2019s 6th Congressional District in the 2026 election, appearing on the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general\u2011election ballot after winning the March\u202f3 Democratic primary with 39.2% of the vote\u30101\u2020L31-L38\u3011.  The U.S. House requires members to be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for seven years, and reside in the state they represent; Jefferson meets these constitutional criteria and is a resident of Guilford County, part of the 6th District\u30101\u2020L1-L4\u3011.\n\nBorn in Utica, New\u202fYork, Jefferson pursued higher education in North Carolina, attending North Carolina A&T State University and High Point University for his undergraduate studies\u30101\u2020L13-L15\u3011.  He began his professional life as a public\u2011 and private\u2011school teacher, later expanding into youth development consulting, motivational speaking, and business ownership through his Change Often Social Innovation Firm\u301015\u2020L9-L13\u3011.\n\nJefferson entered local politics as a member of the High Point City Council, serving four years before running for mayor.  In the 2023 municipal election he won the mayoral race with 56.55% of the vote, becoming the city\u2019s first Black male mayor and the second person of color ever elected to that office\u301020\u2020L1-L7\u3011\u301019\u2020L1-L3\u3011.  As mayor, he has emphasized public\u2011private partnerships that delivered a 67% reduction in violent crime, secured $10\u202fmillion for workforce\u2011development programs, and helped attract the professional soccer team Carolina\u202fCore\u202fFC to the region\u30107\u2020L1-L4\u3011\u30108\u2020L1-L4\u3011.  He also joined the national \u201cTake\u202fBAC\u202fCongress\u201d reform initiative, advocating for congressional term limits, overturning Citizens United, and banning stock trading by members of Congress while in office\u301010\u2020L1-L8\u3011.\n\nIn August\u202f2025 Jefferson announced his candidacy for Congress, filing with the Federal Election Commission and stating he would not use personal funds above federal thresholds\u301018\u2020L1-L5\u3011.  The campaign is organized under the website CyrilForCongress.com, which outlines priorities such as affordability, healthcare, education, public safety, economic development, and national\u2011security reforms\u30107\u2020L5-L12\u3011.  His congressional platform builds on his mayoral record, promising to bring the same results\u2011first approach to Washington.\n\nJefferson\u2019s electoral r\u00e9sum\u00e9 includes a 2019 victory for High Point City Council Ward\u202f1, where he defeated incumbent Willie Davis with 55% of the vote\u30101\u2020L24-L27\u3011, and a 2023 mayoral win that made history for the city\u301020\u2020L1-L5\u3011.  In the 2026 Democratic primary he prevailed over three opponents, securing 15,237 votes\u30101\u2020L33-L38\u3011, and now faces incumbent Republican Rep. Addison\u202fMcDowell and Independent Joshua\u202fHager in the November general election\u30101\u2020L19-L22\u3011.  Throughout his career he has been affiliated with organizations such as the United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP, and the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative\u30101\u2020L16-L18\u3011.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Cyril Jefferson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Cyril_Jefferson)\n- [3] [Staff Directory \u2022 Cyril Jefferson](https://www.highpointnc.gov/directory.aspx?EID=599)\n- [7] [Cyril Jefferson for Congress | Leadership for North Carolina\u2019s 6th District](https://www.cyrilforcongress.com/)\n- [8] [Elect Cyril Jefferson - Home](https://www.electcyriljefferson.com/)\n- [9] [About \u2014 Cyril Jefferson for Congress](https://www.cyrilforcongress.com/about)\n- [10] [Mayor Cyril Jefferson Joins \u201cTake BAC Congress\u201d to Advance Government Accountability Reforms](https://www.cyrilforcongress.com/news/mayor-cyril-jefferson-joins-take-bac-congress-to-advance-government-accountability-reforms)\n- [15] [Commitment 2023: Meet the two candidates for High Point mayor](https://www.wxii12.com/article/commitment-2023-meet-the-two-candidates-for-high-point-mayor/45514818)\n- [16] [High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson announces bid for Congress](https://www.bpr.org/2025-08-06/high-point-mayor-cyril-jefferson-announces-bid-for-congress)\n- [18] [High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson to challenge Rep. McDowell in 2026](https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/politics/high-point-mayor-to-run-for-6th-nc-congressional-district/83-c5588ebe-7b6e-4d8c-b7dc-703366f9388c)\n- [19] [Cyril Jefferson High Point mayor first Black man](https://greensboro.com/news/local/government-politics/high-point-2023-elections/article_bc425976-7deb-11ee-8e0a-3fd01475637b.html)\n- [20] [Cyril Jefferson announced as projected winner for High Point mayoral race](https://www.wxii12.com/article/cyril-jefferson-announced-as-projected-winner-for-high-point-mayoral-race/45778322)","campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_006","county":"cabarrus","county_count":7,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Us House Of Representatives District 06"},{"contest":"us_house_006","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Us House Of Representatives District 06"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Cyril","fullname":"Cyril Anthony Jefferson","lastname":"Jefferson","middlename":"Anthony","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_006","contest_title":"Us House Of Representatives District 06","county":"cabarrus","county_count":7,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"us_house_006","contest_title":"Us House Of Representatives District 06","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"us_house_006","contest_title":"Us House Of Representatives District 06","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Cyril Jefferson, High Point mayor and former teacher, is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina\u2019s 6th U.S. House district in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"c0eb04eb3c2fb84d"}