Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

It really is. The folks I talked with thought the recall would pass, but maybe with 55-65%. White has been thought to have a certain unshakable core of support—but that seems to have evaporated once the las couple of years.

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

To read more about today's recall election results in Jackson County, check out reporting from @kcur.org's Savannah Hawley-Bates... www.kcur.org/politics-ele...

Jackson County unseats executive Frank White Jr. in historic election. What happens now?

White has served as county executive since 2016. Tens of thousands of signatures were gathered to trigger the special election, which White believes was called illegally.

www.kcur.org

1

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

Jax Co Legislature Chair DaRon McGee will appoint the acting Executive, and the Legislature has 30 days to select the new Executive to serve the rest of White's term (through 2026). If the majority fails to agree on a replacement, a county judge will appoint one.

1

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

And there it is. The final unofficial results from all precincts are in: Frank White Jr. has been recalled as Jackson County Executive, with 85% of voters voting YES to remove him from office, effective immediately. @kcur.org

1 5

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

It's looking like at the end of the day, Jackson County's voters will have decided about 5-to-1 to remove Executive Frank White Jr. Next up: Jax Co Legislature Chair DaRon McGee will appoint an acting Executive to serve up to 30 days. It must be a Democrat residing in the county.

1 5

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

One of the things this election really brings to light is the difference between a vote to recall an office-holder and a vote to elect someone. It's easier to find a majority to vote against someone (and for no one) than it is to find a majority to vote yes FOR someone in particular.

1 1

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

Voter turnout today in the KC Election Board part of the county was 10.62%. For comparison, 14.5% turned out for last April's school/special elections, and 54.4% turned out for the general election last November. In Nov. 2022 (the last time Frank White was elected), turnout was 38.5%.

1 1 4

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

Now with all KCEB precincts reporting and 59% of JCEB precincts reporting:
KCEB JCEB Total
YES 17593 28137 45730 83%
NO 5654 3445 9099 17%

2

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

Now Jax Co Election Board is at 39.4% of precincts reporting. Total between both election boards is now 39,344 (83%) YES, 8,288 (17%) NO. I think we can safely call it: Frank White Jr. has been recalled as Jackson County Executive by a wide margin. @kcur.org

1 1

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

And ... Kansas City Election Board is now calling its results the "final unofficial," meaning that's the last report for tonight. In KC alone, the YES votes have prevailed 17593-5654. Still at just 15.4% precincts reporting in Jackson County Election Board territory.

1

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

More results now from KCEB, which has added in some of the early voting and mail-in absentee ballots. The YES vote leads by at least two to one in all categories, and more than three-to-one overall. The total count is now 30,379 YES, 7,235. That's 81% to recall White as county exec. @kcur.org

1 1

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

Now with 15.4% of precincts in reporting in JCEB territory, the YES vote is widening its lead. Total for both voting jurisdictions is now 21985 YES (83%), 4592 NO (17%).

2

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

Still quite early, although it's hard to know what voter turnout to expect tonight. Combining the KCEB and JCEB numbers, we're at 16,127 YES to recall and 3,927 NO. That's 80% yes. Even if there remain a lot of votes left to count, that's a good sample size. @kcur.org

1

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

First batch of results from the Kansas City Election Board:
YES 9199 (75%), NO 3011 (25%). There's no indication in the posting what percentage of the precincts are represented in those numbers. @kcur.org

1

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

Second, results may swing a bit depending on where the earlier votes come from. One might assume White will have more support in the KC Election Board results, although there is no way to be sure of that--lots of frustration with property assessments and legislative dysfunction county-wide. (2/2)

2

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

While we're waiting for election results tonight, a couple reminders: First, a YES vote is a vote to recall Frank White jr., removing him immediately upon certification of the election, as county executive. A NO vote would retain him, and he would serve the remaining 15 months of his term. (1/2)

1 2

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

It's super early, but with just a 1 out of the 104 non-KC Jackson County precincts reporting, the YES vote (to recall Frank White) is leading 6928 (88%) to 916 (12%). That's presumably some of the early/absentee votes, as they were released right when the polls closed. @kcur.org

2

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

As a reminder, there are two election authorities counting votes tonight: The Kansas City Election Board (which covers all of Jackson County inside the city limits), and the Jackson County Election Board (which covers all the rest of Jackson County). We add them together for the final counts.

1

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · 18d

Polls are now closed in the Jackson County election to recall Frank White Jr as county executive. I’ll be posting election results here as they are reported. @kcur.org

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · Sep 4

Whoa. I filled in his name in today’s NYT Crossword and within an hour, he was dead. Alarming.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · Sep 4

BREAKING: Giorgio Armani, a stalwart of Milan ready-to-wear who revolutionized fashion with unstructured looks, has died at 91.

Fashion designer Giorgio Armani dead at 91

Giorgio Armani, the iconic Italian designer, has died at 91, his fashion house confirmed. Armani, known for his understated elegance, missed Milan Fashion Week in June 2025 due to an undisclosed condition.

bit.ly

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · May 17

A joy as always to be announcing the names of @umkc.bsky.social graduates today at commencement along with my @kcur.org colleague Lisa Rodriguez.

4

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · Apr 29

Voter-approved Paid sick leave law for Missouri will take effect as scheduled May 1 after Supreme Court decision today, even as #moleg continues debating ways to undo it. missouriindependent.com/2025/04/29/m...

Missouri Supreme Court upholds voter-approved paid sick leave law • Missouri Independent

Missouri’s Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld Proposition A, the voter-approved law expanding paid sick leave and increasing the minimum wage.

missouriindependent.com

3

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · Mar 7

Savannah Hawley-Bates and Madeline Fox report: “The decision to suspend Platt is within Lucas’ control, but a source told KCUR it was unanimously supported by city council.”

Brian Ellison @ptsbrian.bsky.social · Mar 7

BREAKING from @kcur.org : KCMO City Manager Brian Pratt has been suspended. www.kcur.org/politics-ele...

Kansas City manager Brian Platt suspended with pay

Mayor Quinton Lucas released a letter Thursday night announcing Brian Platt had been suspended from his position.

www.kcur.org

2 1 1

Reposted by Brian Ellison

KCUR (Kansas City's best news source) @kcur.org · Feb 10

What was going on with that "He Gets Us" ad in the Super Bowl?

A Kansas-based foundation created the campaign two years ago, aimed at humanizing Jesus and re-branding Christianity. The ads are funded, in part, by Hobby Lobby.

Read our original 2023 story:

'He Gets Us': A Kansas campaign spent $20 million on Super Bowl ads to rebrand Jesus Christ

The campaign will ultimately spend $1 billion to humanize Jesus and Christianity, asking “How did the world's greatest love story become known as a hate group?” The ads are funded, in part, by Hobby L...

www.kcur.org

3 9 9