Missouri 6th District Congressman Sam Graves has announced his intention to retire at the end of the current congressional session. Graves released the following statement:
“When I first ran for State Representative back in 1992, my aspiration was to represent my hometown of Tarkio, Missouri. I was a twenty-seven-year-old farmer who just wanted to stand up for a way of life and his community. I never could have imagined where that decision would take me.”
Graves says that after considerable reflection, 2026 will be his final year in Congress. He says, “This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right one. I believe in making room for the next generation. It’s time to pass the torch and allow a new guard of conservative leaders to step forward and chart a path forward for Missourians.
Graves had filed on February 26th to be on the ballot for the August primary election. As of Friday morning, he is still listed as a candidate for the office