Conservative talk radio host Chris Stigall is stepping away from his nationally syndicated Salem Radio Network morning program to seek the Republican nomination for Missouris 6th Congressional District.
His decision came within hours of Republican Rep. Sam Graves announcement that he will retire after 25 years in Congress, vacating one of northern Missouris most reliably conservative seats. As reported by RedState, the timing of Graves departure appears to have accelerated a choice Stigall says he had been weighing for some time.
In a video posted to X on Friday morning, Stigall described Graves retirement as very sudden news and said it forced him to confront whether he would remain behind the microphone or step directly into the political arena. Could I have a couple of minutes? Ive made a big decision, he told his audience in the clip.
Stigall framed his move as the natural next step for someone who has spent decades warning about the growth of federal power and the erosion of individual liberty. For 25 years, Ive had the blessing of talking with you about the issues that face our nation, he said. But in the last few years, weve watched a government that became completely out of control.
He cited the COVID era as the breaking point, pointing to lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and what he called government surveillance and censorship as evidence of a bureaucracy unmoored from constitutional limits. Those years, he explained, convinced him that commentary alone was no longer sufficient and that he had a responsibility to try to change policy from the inside.
Stigall joined Salem Media Groups Philadelphia morning show in November 2019 and was added to the Kansas City lineup in 2020, quickly building a following among listeners seeking unapologetically conservative analysis. In December 2024, he was elevated to national morning host for the Salem Radio Network, succeeding Hugh Hewitt and solidifying his place in the talk-radio landscape.
In his announcement, Stigall was explicit about the figure who most influenced his decision to run. He didnt need that job, but he cared enough about the country to put it all on the line, Stigall said of Donald Trump. What President Trump sacrificed inspired me. Its hung with me a lot, and frankly haunted me for a while, that I need to do a lot more than just talk about it.
He told listeners that his choice followed prayer and extensive conversations with his family, and that the approach of the nations 250th anniversary underscored the urgency of the moment. Its time to put up or shut up, he said. Thats why Ive decided Im going to leave my show, Im going to leave this microphone, and Im going to enter the arena today.
Missouris 6th District, which stretches across much of northern Missouri, is considered safely Republican, making the GOP primary the decisive contest. Graves, 62, who chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and served 13 terms, announced on Facebook that he would not seek a 14th term, writing that he believes in making room for the next generation.
The open seat is already drawing national attention as a potential battleground within the Republican Party itself. According to the Missouri Independent, the primary could become a proxy clash between Trump-aligned conservatives and the political network built by Jeff Roe, founder of Kansas City-based Axiom Strategies, whom Trump publicly criticized after Roes work for Ron DeSantis 2024 super PAC.
Trump aides have reportedly urged House Republicans not to hire Roe, raising the stakes for any candidate aligned with his operation. Candidate filing closes March 31, and as of Friday, Jim Ingram, a Kansas City veteran and retired business owner, had already entered the race, alongside three Democratic hopefuls in a district they are unlikely to flip.
On the broadcasting side, Salem Radio Network is moving quickly to stabilize its morning lineup. The company told Inside Radio that Jen Horn, morning host at AM 870 The Answer KRLA in Los Angeles, and Mark Davis, morning host at 660 AM The Answer KSKY in Dallas, will fill in over the coming weeks while a permanent replacement is sought.
Stigall ended his announcement with a pointed appeal to voters who share his concern about the direction of the country and the size of the federal government. Today Im going to stop talking, and Im going to start fighting, he said. Im running to earn your vote. I covet your prayers. I thank you for listening, and now its time to get to work.
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