Cyril Jefferson

Cyril Jefferson
Official portrait, 2026
Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 6th district
Assuming office
January 3, 2027
SucceedingAddison McDowell
Mayor of High Point, North Carolina
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 4, 2023
Preceded byJay W. Wagner
Personal details
Born (1992-04-09) April 9, 1992 (age 34)
Utica, New York, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationHoward University (attended)
North Carolina A&T State University (BA)

Cyril Anthony Jefferson (born April 9, 1992) is an American politician who is a member-elect of the United States House of Representatives for North Carolina's 6th congressional district, having defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Addison McDowell (R) in the 2026 United States House of Representatives election.

Jefferson has served as mayor of High Point, North Carolina, since December 2023. He is the youngest elected mayor in High Point's history, as well as the city's second African-American mayor.

Early life

Jefferson is from Utica, New York. At age 14, he moved to High Point, North Carolina, where he attended T. Wingate Andrews High School. In high school, Jefferson was a member of the marching band. He received a full scholarship to Howard University in Washington, D.C.. Jefferson later transferred to North Carolina A&T State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies in 2018.

Jefferson has worked as a music teacher and established a consultancy firm known as "Change Often". He and his wife, Raven, whom he met in high school, have two children.

Political career

In 2019, Jefferson won election to the High Point City Council representing Ward 1. Four years later, he was elected as mayor of High Point with 7,322 votes; 1,514 more than his opponent, Victor Jones. He became the second African-American to hold the position and the youngest mayor in city history. (Former Mayor Bernita Sims was the city's first African-American mayor).

In August 2025, Jefferson launched a campaign for the United States House of Representatives for North Carolina's 6th congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party. He won the Democratic primary with 39% of the vote against Alysa Kassay.

In the general election, Jefferson faced off against incumbent Republican Addison McDowell. The congressional district is considered strongly Republican-leaning and was rated by many websites as "solid" or "safe" Republican. The Blue Ridge Times stated that despite Jefferson "putting forward a platform that can be perceived as more moderate", it would be "nearly impossible" for him to pull off victory, and McDowell remarked that Jefferson had a better chance of winning the lottery than defeating him. Nevertheless, on election day, Jefferson defeated McDowell with 51.1% of the vote in a major upset.

References

  1. 1 2 "Cyril Jefferson has taken his oath of office and has been installed as Mayor of High Point". City of High Point official X.com. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2026-11-07.
  2. 1 2 3 Regester, Yasmine (2023-11-10). "N.C. voters overwhelmingly elect 3 African American men to lead cities". Carolina Peacemaker. Archived from the original on 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2026-11-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Meet Cyril Jefferson the Biden Campaign Surrogate Challenging Congressman Addison McDowell". The Blue Ridge Times. August 6, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Cyril Jefferson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Ray, Hannah (February 6, 2025). "High Point's First Couple: The Jeffersons". High Point Discovered. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  6. ↑ Huggins, Deja (July 17, 2025). "High Point Mayor Jefferson '18 to Receive 2025 Keeper of the Flame Award". North Carolina A&T State University.
  7. 1 2 "U.S. House of Representatives (NC-6)". WFAE. October 6, 2026.
  8. ↑ Mikkelson, Emily (November 7, 2023). "Cyril Jefferson wins High Point mayoral race; see the new High Point City Council". WGHP.
  9. ↑ "High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson announces bid for Congress". WUNC. August 6, 2025.
  10. ↑ Johnson, Paul B. (March 4, 2026). "Jefferson wins 6th District primary". The High Point Enterprise.
  11. ↑ "2026 CPR House Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Paul B. (November 4, 2026). "Jefferson pulls off US House upset". The High Point Enterprise.