Meet Cyril Jefferson the Biden Campaign Surrogate Challenging Congressman Addison McDowell

Yesterday, High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson announced his campaign for North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, challenging first-term Republican Addison McDowell. The Cook Political Reports lists North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District as a R+11, and McDowell faced no Democrat challenger in 2024. 

Biography 

Cyril Jefferson was born in Utica, New York, and moved to High Point when he turned 14, attending T.W. Andrews High School in High Point. He first attended Howard University then transferred to North Carolina A&T were he graduated with a B.S. in liberal studies, Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis.  

After graduating college, Jefferson worked at Communities in Schools as a Student Support Specialist. He founded a consultancy firm called “Change Often.” His firm partners with nonprofits, learning institutions, socially-responsible businesses, government entities, and foundations to construct and carry out purpose-driven strategies and initiatives that create change. Jefferson’s LinkedIn did not list any private sector experience. 

He was first elected to the High Point City Council in 2019, and elected High Point mayor in 2023. In his first major budget as Mayor, Jefferson voted to increased property taxes by 3.0 to 64.75 per $100 of property value, imposing a 7% increase in the tax burden for residents of High Point.  

During the 2024 campaign, Jefferson served a surrogate for the Biden for President campaign, helping organize volunteers in the Triad. After Biden dropped out once it became clear at the debate that he was not mentally competent enough to serve as President, Jefferson immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.  

Political Analysis 

North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District is a solid Republican District, and Jefferson will face an uphill battle for this seat. While he is putting forward a platform that can be perceived as more moderate, the district is further to the right. It will be nearly impossible to Jefferson to put together a winning coalition of moderate votes, with the Democrat base that wants to Defund ICE, Free Palestine, and raise taxes on Americans.  

Additionally, Jefferson’s background in critical theory and his work with his consultancy may prove to be a liability, given the change in the public perception of DEI initiatives.  

No wonder Congressman Addison said, “Cyril has a better chance of winning the lottery than convincing the 6th district to vote for a woke, far left politician who raised taxes on middle class families.”