2025 Jackson County Executive recall election

Last updated

2025 Jackson County Executive recall election
September 30, 2025
Recall Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr.
Reporting
100%
as of 9:07PM CST
Results
Choice
Votes%
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes64,46985.21%
Light brown x.svgNo11,19114.79%

The 2025 Jackson County, Missouri Executive recall election took place on September 30, 2025. Incumbent County Executive Frank White, who has served as County Executive since 2016, was recalled in a landslide, with 85 percent of voters supporting White's removal. [1] The County Legislature will select a replacement to serve out the remainder of White's term, which expires in 2027. [2]

Contents

Background

White was first appointed as Jackson County Executive in 2016, following the resignation of Mike Sanders, who was ultimately sentenced to prison for fraud. [3] White was elected to serve out the remainder of Sanders' term in a special election later that year, and was re-elected in 2018 and 2022.

Controversy over rising real estate assessments prompted several unsuccessful recall campaigns against White. In 2024, Democracy in Action, a dark money group, began financing the recall campaign against Jackson, [4] which he alleged was backed by construction firms who wanted to build a new stadium for the Kansas City Royals. [5]

On June 30, 2025, the Jackson County Election Board announced that enough signatures had been collected to present the recall election to the County Legislature. [6] The County Legislature approved the recall and scheduled it for August 26, 2025, over the protests of the Election Board, which argued that the date was too soon. [7] White subsequently vetoed the recall election, which the County Legislature overrode. [8] The County Election Board sought to move the recall election to November 4, 2025, and 16th Circuit Court Judge Marty Wayne Seaton ultimately scheduled the election for September 30, 2025. [9]

White subsequently appealed Seaton's decision, and on September 26, 2025, asked the Missouri Court of Appeals to schedule the election for November. It denied the request on September 29, allowing the recall election to proceed. [10] White appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court, which denied his petition. [11]

Results

2025 Jackson County Executive recall election
ChoiceVotes%
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes64,46985.21
No11,19114.79
Total votes75,660100.00
Source: Jackson County Election Board, [12] Kansas City Election Board [13]

References

  1. Arougheti, Iliana (September 30, 2025). "Frank White Jr. ousted as Jackson County executive in historic recall election". Kansas City Star . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  2. Arougheti, Ilana (August 22, 2025). "What happens if Jackson County voters decide to recall Frank White next month?". Kansas City Star . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  3. Hendricks, Mike (January 12, 2016). "Ex-Royal Frank White takes new role as Jackson County leader". The Kansas City Star . Kansas City, Missouri. p. 14A. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  4. Hendricks, Mike; Bayless, Kacen (November 19, 2024). "A mysterious new KC group is reigniting push to recall Frank White. Who's paying for it?". Kansas City Star . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  5. Keegan, Charlie (September 28, 2025). "Why is Jackson County Executive Frank White facing a recall?". KSHB-TV . Kansas City, Missouri . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  6. Tatschl, Krista (June 30, 2025). "Election board says enough signatures have been collected for Frank White recall petition". KMBC-TV . Kansas City, Missouri . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  7. Kraske, Steve (July 9, 2025). "Why are Jackson County voters being asked to recall county executive Frank White Jr.?". KCUR-FM . Kansas City, Missouri . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  8. Cederlund, Maya (July 18, 2025). "Recall election for Jackson County Executive moves forward after override of Frank White Jr.'s veto". KCUR-FM . Kansas City, Missouri . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  9. Cederlund, Maya (August 4, 2025). "Frank White Jr. will face recall vote in Sept. 30 special election, Jackson County judge rules". KCUR-FM . Kansas City, Missouri . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  10. Boring, Samantha (September 29, 2025). "Appeals court denies Jackson County Executive Frank White's bid to halt recall election". KCTV . Kansas City, Missouri . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  11. Shriner, Zoë (October 1, 2025). "Missouri Supreme Court denies last-minute petition to bar Frank White recall election". KCTV . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  12. Jackson County Election Board (September 30, 2025). "Unofficial Election Results - Special Recall Election - September 30, 2025" . Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  13. Kansas City Election Board (September 30, 2025). "Summary Results Report - Special Election - September 30, 2025" (PDF). Retrieved October 1, 2025.