Jackson County voters signaled a major shift in county government Tuesday, choosing new leadership at both the executive and legislative levels after years of political turmoil marked by recalls, lawsuits, property tax disputes and infighting.
Attorney Stacy Lake overwhelmingly won the Democratic nomination for county executive, defeating Bill Baird and Dan Tarwater with 20,000 votes, more than Baird and Tarwater combined. Lake prevailed despite Baird earning endorsements from major labor organizations and The Kansas City Star editorial board and Tarwater receiving backing from Freedom Inc. and Southland Progress. Her win speaks to a real grassroots effort.
Lake first entered county politics after the county’s property tax assessment controversy and came within four percentage points of defeating former County Executive Frank White in the 2022 Democratic primary. She now advances to face Republican Alan Rohlfing in November, but in heavily Democratic Jackson County she enters the general election as the overwhelming favorite.
The County Legislature will also look dramatically different in January. Only three of the current nine legislators sought reelection, ensuring a significant turnover in membership.
One incumbent was defeated. First District At-Large Legislator Jalen Anderson, first elected in 2018, lost to attorney Carla Fields of the Kansas City law firm Fields & Brown. Fields, whose practice has focused on workers’ compensation defense for more than 17 years, earned the endorsement of Freedom Inc. Justice Horn finished third in the Democratic primary.
Among the returning members, Venessa Huskey won reelection to represent the 2nd District, defeating Erik Dickenson, president of Urban Rangers. Huskey has no Republican opponent in November.
Donna Peyton, the current Legislature chair and 2nd District At-Large legislator, defeated former Kansas City Council member and former state Rep. Brandon Ellington in the Democratic primary and will face Republican Gresia Cabrera in the general election.
Several new faces have already secured seats. Susan Wilson, the retired vice chancellor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, was elected without opposition to replace Meghan Marshall in the 3rd District At-Large seat. Kelly Thompson also won election without opposition in the 1st District after incumbent Manny Abarca vacated the seat to run for county executive.
In the 4th District, Democrat Byron Townsend won the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Legislator DaRon McGee and is heavily favored in November.
Three other Jackson County Legislator races remain on the November ballot.
In District 3, Democrat Dennis Rowland will face Republican Scott Quails to replace Charlie Franklin, who did not seek reelection. Based on August primary turnout, Democrats appear to hold an advantage in the district.
District 5 could be the Legislature’s most competitive contest. Democrat Antoine Jennings, who previously ran unsuccessfully for the Missouri Senate and the Blue Springs School Board, will face Republican Dale Carter, a former Blue Springs city council member and longtime Kansas City radio personality, for the open seat being vacated by Jeanie Lauer.
In District 6, Democrat Tony Lawson will take on Republican Bill Haley for the seat currently held by Sean Smith, who also chose not to seek another term. Primary turnout suggests Democrats may enter the general election with an edge.
With Stacy Lake favored to become the next county executive and at least seven new legislators set to take office, Jackson County voters have positioned county government for a dramatically different leadership team beginning in January. The final makeup of the Legislature will likely be determined by three remaining district races in November.
