Brian Ellison
@ptsbrian.bsky.social
Host/Contributor, Kansas City NPR affiliate @kcur.org, usually talking MO/KS politics; Exec. Dir., @CovNetPres.org; Presby minister, sports announcer, partner, dad to dogs. He/him.
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
October 1, 2025 at 3:34 AM
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...
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
October 1, 2025 at 2:13 AM
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
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.
October 1, 2025 at 2:00 AM
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.
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%.
October 1, 2025 at 1:47 AM
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%.
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%
KCEB JCEB Total
YES 17593 28137 45730 83%
NO 5654 3445 9099 17%
October 1, 2025 at 1:43 AM
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%
KCEB JCEB Total
YES 17593 28137 45730 83%
NO 5654 3445 9099 17%
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
October 1, 2025 at 1:34 AM
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
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.
October 1, 2025 at 1:31 AM
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.
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
October 1, 2025 at 1:28 AM
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
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%).
October 1, 2025 at 1:25 AM
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%).
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
October 1, 2025 at 1:18 AM
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
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
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
October 1, 2025 at 1:13 AM
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
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
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)
October 1, 2025 at 12:55 AM
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)
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
October 1, 2025 at 12:18 AM
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
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.
October 1, 2025 at 12:13 AM
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.
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
October 1, 2025 at 12:01 AM
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
Whoa. I filled in his name in today’s NYT Crossword and within an hour, he was dead. Alarming.
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
September 4, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Whoa. I filled in his name in today’s NYT Crossword and within an hour, he was dead. Alarming.
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.
May 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
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.
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
April 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
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...
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
March 7, 2025 at 1:43 AM
BREAKING from @kcur.org : KCMO City Manager Brian Pratt has been suspended. www.kcur.org/politics-ele...
Reposted by Brian Ellison
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:
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
February 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
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:
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:
So I’ve asked a couple other people… Did the President forget to put his hand on the Bibles when he took the oath?
January 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
So I’ve asked a couple other people… Did the President forget to put his hand on the Bibles when he took the oath?
One can only imagine how Billy Graham would have responded to his son using the inaugural invocation to give a campaign-style speech of praise for any President-elect and his victory rather than for God and God’s guidance.
January 20, 2025 at 5:01 PM
One can only imagine how Billy Graham would have responded to his son using the inaugural invocation to give a campaign-style speech of praise for any President-elect and his victory rather than for God and God’s guidance.
I’ve just realized there is no poetry on today’s inaugural program. That makes me sad in a completely non-partisan way.
January 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I’ve just realized there is no poetry on today’s inaugural program. That makes me sad in a completely non-partisan way.
However one feels about the inauguration, what a day it must be for young musicians (like the University of Nebraska Choir rehearsing now) to sing in the Capitol rotunda. You can see it on their faces. The Marine band conductor looks pretty awestruck by it, too.
January 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
However one feels about the inauguration, what a day it must be for young musicians (like the University of Nebraska Choir rehearsing now) to sing in the Capitol rotunda. You can see it on their faces. The Marine band conductor looks pretty awestruck by it, too.
Sharp observation from @jaketapper.bsky.social displaying pic of owners of Meta, Amazon, Apple, X and Google at this morning’s church service, paraphrased: The quantity of control over information held by those men (now all together rallying around one person) is something to notice.
January 20, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Sharp observation from @jaketapper.bsky.social displaying pic of owners of Meta, Amazon, Apple, X and Google at this morning’s church service, paraphrased: The quantity of control over information held by those men (now all together rallying around one person) is something to notice.