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6th Congressional District · 2026 U.S. House · Unofficial result

U.S. House, 6th District: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Rep. Addison McDowell (R) ran for re-election against High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson (D). With all precincts reporting, Jefferson leads by 6,264 votes. Results are unofficial until certified. Check your own address on the NC State Board of Elections voter lookup to confirm your district.

Jefferson leadsAll precincts reporting; unofficial until certified1
51.14%Jefferson (D)1
48.86%McDowell (R)1
6,264Vote margin of 273,738 cast1

Do they have a plan?

We read every issue on each candidate's own website and checked the same six things for every one. We count what's there. We don't grade whether the ideas are good. Read the full scoring rules

Of the issues on their website, how many...Cyril JeffersonAddison McDowell
Names a policy6 of 6
2 of 6
Says how they'd do it1 of 6
1 of 6
Includes a number or target0 of 6
0 of 6
Says how it's paid for0 of 6
0 of 6
Gives a timeline0 of 6
0 of 6
Points to a record4 of 6
0 of 6

The candidates, side by side

Each topic shows every candidate's own words on it, in alphabetical order, from their own website. "Nothing on this topic" means their site doesn't cover it. Topic rows are grouped by us from their headings; the scores don't change.

Cyril JeffersonDemocrat
Addison McDowellRepublican
Who they are
Cyril Jefferson
High Point mayor and former teacher
Addison McDowell
U.S. Representative, first elected in 2024 (his site)
Abortion
Cyril Jefferson
Nothing on this topic
Addison McDowell
Abortion (no heading posted; labeled by us)"I will vote 100% pro-life and will champion pro-life causes and legislation in Congress."1010
None of the six checks
Guns
Cyril Jefferson
Nothing on this topic
Addison McDowell
Guns (no heading posted; labeled by us)"I will fight government overreach that aims to disrupt North Carolinians' 2nd Amendment rights."1010
None of the six checks
Immigration and the border
Cyril Jefferson
National Security & Immigration"Cyril supports bipartisan solutions like the Border Act of 2024 to add border agents, judges, and cutting-edge fentanyl detection technology at legal ports of entry"8 Also, on ICE: "CBP and ICE agents must be clearly identifiable (no masks), body-worn cameras must be used, entries must require judicial warrants, and sensitive places like schools and hospitals must be protected."88
Names a policySays how they'd do it
Addison McDowell
Border and fentanyl (no heading posted; labeled by us)"We must secure the Southern Border and stop the flow of illegal drugs from flooding into our country."1010
None of the six checks
Health care
Cyril Jefferson
Healthcare & Hunger Relief"Protect Medicaid and Medicare for North Carolina families and seniors."4 Also: "Lower prescription drug prices by expanding Medicare's negotiating power."4 Record: "Under Cyril's leadership, High Point transformed from one of the worst-ranked areas for food hardship to a 2024 All-America City Award winner for tackling hunger."44
Names a policyPoints to a record
Addison McDowell
Nothing on this topic
Schools and education
Cyril Jefferson
Education & Workforce Development"Create debt-free career pathways after high school, including apprenticeships that let students earn while they learn."6 Also: "Tie all funding to real outcomes like job placement and wage growth."6 Record, from his Issues page: "backed by his proven success in mobilizing $10M for job training and education."26, 2
Names a policyPoints to a record
Addison McDowell
Nothing on this topic
Technology and privacy
Cyril Jefferson
Nothing on this topic
Addison McDowell
Digital assets (no heading posted; labeled by us)He wants a pro-innovation crypto policy, "avoiding burdensome government regulation and opposing efforts to create central bank digital currencies (CBDCs)."1010
Names a policy
Roads, transit and infrastructure
Cyril Jefferson
Economic Development & Infrastructure"Boosting small business growth with SBA micro-loans and Main Street accelerator funds."7 Also: "Bringing tax dollars home to fix roads, expand broadband, and improve rail service without raising local taxes."7 Record: "Cyril has mobilized $10M for workforce development and helped 500+ entrepreneurs grow their businesses."77
Names a policyPoints to a record
Addison McDowell
Nothing on this topic
Elections and voting
Cyril Jefferson
Protecting Democracy & Accountability"Advance meaningful structural reforms, including congressional term limits, overriding Citizens United, banning stock trading by members of Congress, establishing a moratorium on lobbying after leaving office, and implementing a binding code of judicial ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court."55
Names a policy
Addison McDowell
Elections (no heading posted; labeled by us)"I will oppose all attempts to federalize elections."10 Also: "States should only get federal grants if they require a voter ID to vote."10 And: "We should also tighten restrictions on absentee voting, so that all votes are received by election day & signature verification is used to ensure voter fraud doesn't occur."1010
Names a policySays how they'd do it
Taxes, jobs and the economy
Cyril Jefferson
Affordability & Cost of Living"Oppose reckless tariffs that act as hidden taxes on working families."3 Also: "Lower prescription drug prices by expanding the power to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies and cracking down on price gouging."3 Record: "Cyril led High Point's $40M housing impact fund, leveraging $2M in public funding to secure $38M in private investment to expand housing supply and improve affordability."33
Names a policyPoints to a record
Addison McDowell
Trade and jobs (no heading posted; labeled by us)"That's why I support President Trump's America First Agenda that protects and promotes American jobs."1010
None of the six checks
Their record
Cyril Jefferson
  • Current mayor of High Point and a former teacher, by his own account.6 His site credits a crime-reduction strategy he implemented with a "67% drop in homicides."5
Addison McDowell
  • His home page says he "was first elected to Congress in 2024 and is running for re-election."11 His Issues page doesn't point to any vote or bill from his time in office.10 His Issues page posts six paragraphs with no headings, so we labeled each by topic.
In their words
Cyril Jefferson

"I'm running for Congress because every community in North Carolina deserves real results, not soundbites."

Cyril Jefferson, campaign About page9

"My focus is on the future. I believe in steady, reliable leadership built on facts, hard work, and listening."

Cyril Jefferson, campaign About page9
Addison McDowell

"We must secure the Southern Border and stop the flow of illegal drugs from flooding into our country."

Addison McDowell, campaign Issues page10

"Free, fair, and secure elections are essential to a functioning country."

Addison McDowell, campaign Issues page10
Where we read it
Cyril Jefferson
Website: cyrilforcongress.com/issues (checked 11/5/2026)
Addison McDowell
Website: mcdowellfornc.com/issues (checked 11/5/2026)

The middle

Where they agree

  • Both talk about stopping drugs at the border. Jefferson: "Secure the border the smart way."8 McDowell: "We must secure the Southern Border and stop the flow of illegal drugs from flooding into our country."10
  • Both say elections must be fair. Jefferson: "Protect free and fair elections and uphold the peaceful transfer of power."5 McDowell: "Free, fair, and secure elections are essential to a functioning country."10
  • Both say they want to protect American jobs. Jefferson: "Support smart, targeted trade policies that protect American jobs without raising prices at home."3 McDowell supports an agenda "that protects and promotes American jobs."10

Where they really split

  • Trade: Jefferson would "Oppose reckless tariffs that act as hidden taxes on working families."3 McDowell blames "the free-trade agenda pushed by previous Presidents, Democrat and Republican alike."10
  • Abortion: Jefferson writes that "it's someone else's right to choose the healthcare that is most helpful to them."4 McDowell: "I will vote 100% pro-life"10

What each one leaves out

  • Jefferson's six issues each name a policy, and one (immigration) spells out how. None gives a future number, a funding source or a date. He cites past results on four.2, 8
  • McDowell's Issues page names a policy on two of six topics (elections and digital assets) and spells out how on one (elections). It gives no numbers, costs, dates or votes from his time in office.10
Sources (checked 11/5/2026)
  1. NC State Board of Elections results, statewide, unofficial (100% of precincts reporting, last county upload Nov 4, 2026 4:13 PM): er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/03/2026&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0
  2. Cyril Jefferson campaign, Issues: cyrilforcongress.com/issues
  3. Cyril Jefferson campaign, Affordability & Cost of Living: cyrilforcongress.com/issues/affordability-cost-of-living
  4. Cyril Jefferson campaign, Healthcare & Hunger Relief: cyrilforcongress.com/issues/healthcare-hunger-relief
  5. Cyril Jefferson campaign, Protecting Democracy & Accountability: cyrilforcongress.com/issues/protecting-democracy-accountability
  6. Cyril Jefferson campaign, Education & Workforce Development: cyrilforcongress.com/issues/education-workforce-development
  7. Cyril Jefferson campaign, Economic Development & Infrastructure: cyrilforcongress.com/issues/economic-development-infrastructure
  8. Cyril Jefferson campaign, National Security & Immigration: cyrilforcongress.com/issues/issue-1
  9. Cyril Jefferson campaign, About: cyrilforcongress.com/about
  10. Addison McDowell campaign, Issues: mcdowellfornc.com/issues
  11. Addison McDowell campaign, Home: mcdowellfornc.com/