Kansas City’s core Democratic legislative districts delivered few election surprises Nov. 3, while surrounding suburban voters helped dismantle Republican supermajorities in Missouri’s Legislature.
Democratic Reps. Yolanda Young, District 22; Tiffany Price, District 26; and Melissa Douglas, District 27, won reelection unopposed. Young enters her final term under House term limits. Price and Douglas, first elected in 2024, begin their second terms. Donna Barnes, District 28, and Anthony Ealy, District 36, defeated Republican challengers.
Two familiar names are leaving Jefferson City with City Hall in their sights. Michael Johnson, District 23, and Mark Sharp, District 37, chose not to seek their final eligible House terms, instead setting their sights on Kansas City Council seats.
Johnson plans to pursue the 3rd District council seat held by term-limited Melissa Robinson. Sharp is seeking the 5th District seat held by Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, who is term-limited and running for mayor.
Their chosen successors won their races unopposed.
Tony L. Van Trece, who succeeds Michael Johnson in House District 23, is a partner at Oppenheimer Law, where he leads the firm’s real estate and transactional practice. He previously served as an assistant city attorney and development specialist for Kansas City, advising on zoning, development incentives and public-private partnerships. Before that, he spent approximately two years as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County.
Karissa Varga succeeds Sharp. A registered nurse, Varga serves on the boards of the Hickman Mills Educational Foundation, South Kansas City Alliance and Southland Progress. Her priorities include healthcare, public schools and affordable housing.
Ealy’s reelection was followed by an arrest Wednesday in Jefferson City. Prosecutors charged him with fourth-degree assault and disturbing the peace after police alleged he threatened another person. He remained jailed without bond Thursday. Democratic leaders said they removed his committee assignments this spring so he could address personal issues and do not plan to restore them. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Across the metro, Democrats flipped seven Republican-held House seats: three in Jackson County, two in Clay County, one in Platte County and one in Cass County. Four Republican incumbents — Chris Brown, Bill Allen, Mike Steinmeyer and Ron Fowler — lost.
Democrat Keri Ingle also defeated Republican House Speaker Jon Patterson for Senate District 8. Statewide, Democrats gained 16 House seats and two Senate seats, ending GOP supermajorities in both chambers. Republicans retain control, but now need Democratic votes for veto overrides and emergency clauses. Results remain unofficial.